Trolley impound fees prompt anger

A Rockingham Shopping Centre contractor says he may be forced to sack casual staff if he is forced to foot the bill for more than 500 trolleys impounded at a City of Rockingham yard.

United Trolley Collections contractor Sungki Cho, who manages trolley collection at five shopping centres across the Perth metropolitan area, said he could be forced to pay $100 for each retrieved trolley.

Mr Cho said staff had not been given notice of the location of abandoned trolleys since the City's Litterbusters took over collection of the units in March.

He said other local governments he dealt with regularly gave a 24-hour notice period before trolleys were impounded and the City of Rockingham was "tough" because it did not allow for the same notice period.

"My guys have always gone out for an hour in the morning to check whether there are any abandoned trolleys around," Mr Cho said.

"They stepped this up to an hour in the morning and an hour in the afternoon when Litterbusters started collecting them around Easter. It's our job to get these trolleys back - I can't afford to pay more than $50,000 it will cost."

He said wheel-lock devices implemented last year helped reduce the number of trolleys removed from the centre, but many held by the City did not have the new technology.

Rockingham Mayor Barry Sammels said the City had not requested contractors pay release fees.

He said the City was working with major retailers to raise awareness of the trolley collection and impounding process.