Phoenix retailers are facing a deadline to comply with a new ordinance aimed at preventing shopping cart churn.
The ordinance, enacted by city leaders in September, requires retailers to equip their shopping carts with locking devices or privately hire cart retrieval companies. The stores now need to complete annual online certifications by January 15 to confirm they comply with the new rules.
Phoenix leaders voted unanimously to pass the ordinance as residents expressed growing frustration with blight and the eyesores caused by stray vehicles. The city is also seeing rising costs in retrieving lost shopping carts belonging to retailers.
“Too often these shopping carts are cast aside without retailers having any meaningful recycling programs in place and are more than just an annoyance,” City Councilwoman Betty Guardado said at the September meeting. “They block sidewalks, clutter public spaces and contribute to the deterioration of the look and quality of life in our communities.”
In fiscal year 2024, 7,851 carts were collected from more than 640 stores, according to the Phoenix Department of Community Services.
The City Council’s decision comes after months of discussions about how to limit retailers and reduce the rising cost of collecting carts in Phoenix.
Under the new regulations, which came into effect on October 17, stores must submit a shopping cart certificate every year detailing how many shopping carts are provided to customers and whether they have an existing shopping cart retrieval contract.
Stores that fail to comply with registration regulations may face penalties ranging from $500 for a first violation to $1,000 for a third violation within three years.
Other Valley cities, including Avondale, Glendale, Maricopa and Peoria, have similar rules.
The city encourages residents to report abandoned shopping carts by calling 602-534-4444, emailing shopping.carts.nsd@phoenix.gov or online at myPHX311.
Republic reporter Sean Raimondo contributed to this article.
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This article originally appeared in The Arizona Republic: Phoenix retailers near deadline for new shopping cart rules
