Staff proposes $50 retrieval fee and homeless fund from returned shopping carts

City staff outlined a plan to address abandoned shopping carts across North Charleston that would shift financial responsibility toward retailers and use recovered revenue for homeless services.

A staff presenter described a multi‑step program: community service officers would collect abandoned carts they find on public rights‑of‑way, Public Works would store tagged carts in a fenced area, store owners would be notified, and businesses would pay a $50 fee to retrieve marked carts. After 30 days of non‑retrieval, the carts would be sold for scrap, and proceeds plus fees would be deposited in a city 'homeless account' for shelters and placement assistance.

The staff member said the approach favors holding businesses accountable rather than pursuing individuals, noting enforcement and intent are difficult to prove in petty‑larceny scenarios. "This is all online. All that money will go into a homeless account," the presenter said, describing an electronic record and oversight for the account.

Council members questioned geography and enforcement: whether carts on private property could be collected, how the city would notify businesses, and whether the proposal should require retailers to install preventive technologies such as GPS or coin‑lock systems. Staff acknowledged many ordinances cover both public and private property and said the proposed fee is designed to create an economic incentive for retailers to adopt preventive measures.

Staff provided comparative examples from other jurisdictions and noted scrap values average roughly $30–$50 per cart; some cities charge more for storage. The council asked staff to draft a policy and ordinance language for later consideration and stressed a need for education and outreach to retailers before enforcement begins.

The council did not adopt an ordinance at the meeting; staff said they would return with a proposed policy and draft ordinance for formal consideration.