The city of Fort Worth is adopting new regulations to deal with the problem of abandoned shopping carts. The ordinance was approved by the Fort Worth City Council and will take effect July 1.
Companies that own shopping carts will be required to take steps to keep the carts on their property and retrieve them if they are taken off the property.
Under the new ordinance, people will be able to notify the Code Compliance Department about abandoned shopping carts in streets or neighborhoods by calling 817-392-1234 or using the MyFW app.
The city will instruct the owner to retrieve the cart. If the store does not comply, city staffers will pick up the cart and store it. The owner will be required to pay a $50 fee to retrieve it. The fee won't be charged if the store already uses a wheel lock system designed to prevent the cart from being removed from the store's parking lot.
Stores with 15 or more abandoned shopping carts during a six-month period will be required to come up with a shopping cart control plan.
"I have a very good relationship with the corporate constituents in District 5 - all but the grocery industry," Fort Worth Mayor Pro Tem Gyna Bivens said. "Right now, the only presence the grocery industry hears from is code compliance, primarily. I think this gives us a better chance to communicate with them so that they realize they, too, have an obligation to keep Fort Worth beautiful."
Related
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Tell your Smart Speaker to "PLAY 1080 KRLD"
Sign Up to receive our KRLD Insider Newsletter for more news