Another proactive measure the city is taking to keep Irving clean and free of clutter is through the enforcement of new shopping cart regulations. Like other forms of litter, abandoned shopping carts can tarnish the image of any city, neighborhood or community.
More than 785 abandoned shopping carts were removed from Irving streets by the city’s Corridor Litter Abatement team last year. With the ratification of the new ordinance, the abatement team will have the help of Irving businesses and retailers to control the whereabouts and retrieval of stray shopping carts.
“Working with business leaders to reduce the number of loose shopping carts is a great idea and represents another innovative step the City of Irving is taking to preserve the vibrancy and beauty of our community,” said Chris Michalski, parks and building maintenance director.
Businesses and retailers that offer patrons shopping carts and occupy more than 3,000 square feet of real estate can satisfy the city’s annual requirement to secure a shopping cart permit for $100. Using the information collected on the permit application, the city will notify businesses and retailers when abandoned shopping carts are spotted on city streets. Carts not collected by the respective business or retailer within a certain amount of time will be retrieved by the city and may be recovered by the business or retailer at costs ranging from $40 to $50 per unit. Unclaimed carts will eventually be scrapped and sold.
To date, the city has partnered with 27 businesses, resulting in a 70 percent reduction of abandoned carts. Residents who find loose shopping carts on city streets, corridors and rights-of-way may report their findings to Irving’s 24-hour litter hot line at (972) 721-5487.
More than 785 abandoned shopping carts were removed from Irving streets by the city’s Corridor Litter Abatement team last year. With the ratification of the new ordinance, the abatement team will have the help of Irving businesses and retailers to control the whereabouts and retrieval of stray shopping carts.
“Working with business leaders to reduce the number of loose shopping carts is a great idea and represents another innovative step the City of Irving is taking to preserve the vibrancy and beauty of our community,” said Chris Michalski, parks and building maintenance director.
Businesses and retailers that offer patrons shopping carts and occupy more than 3,000 square feet of real estate can satisfy the city’s annual requirement to secure a shopping cart permit for $100. Using the information collected on the permit application, the city will notify businesses and retailers when abandoned shopping carts are spotted on city streets. Carts not collected by the respective business or retailer within a certain amount of time will be retrieved by the city and may be recovered by the business or retailer at costs ranging from $40 to $50 per unit. Unclaimed carts will eventually be scrapped and sold.
To date, the city has partnered with 27 businesses, resulting in a 70 percent reduction of abandoned carts. Residents who find loose shopping carts on city streets, corridors and rights-of-way may report their findings to Irving’s 24-hour litter hot line at (972) 721-5487.
