How to Report Abandoned Shopping Trolleys: A Guide by QR Lost Notification

UPDATED NOVEMBER 2023

At QR Lost Notification, we recognise the nuisance and hazards of abandoned shopping trolleys. More than just an eyesore, they can become environmental hazards and pose dangers to traffic, property and pedestrians. That's why we're committed to making a difference. Reporting lost or abandoned shopping trolleys is crucial—as it helps keep our communities clean, aids in trolley recovery, and reduces waste. This not only benefits the environment but also impacts your wallet. The costs of trolley replacement, (on average 1 trolley costing a retailer from $250) is often passed onto customers through higher product prices and increased shire rates for council disposal, which can be mitigated through effective reporting.

We believe in empowering community members to maintain clean, trolley-free neighbourhoods. Traditional reporting methods, with their complexity and inefficiency, often lead to apathy. Why would anyone bother if it's so complicated? Retailers do value community reports of abandoned trolleys, and it's time to make this process easier. QR Lost Notification's QR Tagging system is the epitome of simplicity. It transforms trolley reporting into an effortless task, encouraging community participation and engagement.

Our comprehensive guide below outlines the various methods currently used to report abandoned shopping trolleys in Australia. However this approch is adopted by retailers world wide.
But we offer a more streamlined solution: QR Tagging.
It's a game-changer in trolley reporting, ensuring quick, efficient, and hassle-free communication between community members and retailers.
Community members can report with simple 2 step action, and retailers are informed instantly with the exact location of the abandoned trolley.

As you can see, by the extensive list above and in spite of all these phone numbers, apps and online forms, abandoned trolleys remain a persistent issue. 

What if, as a civic minded person, you came across a trolley wasteland - where there are multiple trolleys, from multiple retailers. You would need to look up each retailer to find out how to report it, before you even get to report the trolley!

The problem is, there are just too many ways to report, and it's different across the retailers. These traditional methods of reporting are often slow and inefficient. They rely on human intervention at multiple steps, from the person reporting the trolley, staff in call centres receiving the information, then relaying this to the relevant store - down to the team that goes out to collect it. This process can take time and is prone to errors, communication delays, resulting in the trolleys left in the community.

Our goal is to become the GOLD STANDARD when it comes to reporting lost and abandoned shopping trolley carts. 


We understand that community members aspire to maintain clean, trolley-free neighbourhoods. However, cumbersome reporting methods often lead to apathy—why bother if it's so complicated? Retailers appreciate when locals report abandoned trolleys, so why not simplify the process? QR Lost Notification's QR Tagging system is the epitome of simplicity, making trolley reporting effortless and encouraging community participation.

Our innovative QR Tag system changes the game. Anyone finding a lost trolley can quickly, and anonymously scan the QR tag by default with their mobile phone camera to instantly alert both the retailer and the nearest collection team. This NO APP approach speeds up recovery and reduces errors, as we are taking away the 'centralised' reporting process. The Retailer and collection team get instant notification of the location of the trolley in Google Maps. This means, there is no further action or steps that you, reporting an abandoned trolley, would have to do. It really is that simple.

Imagine reporting a lost trolley with just 1 simple action on your mobile phone!


If, like community members, you're frustrated with the current inefficient recovery methods, you can download our PDF Advocacy Brief to share with your local retailers, and with your local council. It details the advantages of QR Lost Notification for managing shopping trolley recovery, and how retailers can join our system.

Encounter a retailer not responsive to trolley reports? Be persistent. Use our PDF Advocacy Brief to directly inform the retailer or report to your local council. Together, we can keep our communities clean and safe.