Councillor Alex Christian took a stand at Wednesday night’s policy committee meeting, saying the city has been waiting years for big businesses to clean up their act. 

"It is no longer acceptable. This has been going on for 10 years and it is actually quite insulting as far as I'm concerned,” he said. 

“Polls have been done that indicate that the community isn't happy with the number of trolleys around the place that haven't been collected. So it is time to get serious on this.” 

On his way to the civic centre for Wednesday night’s meeting, Cr Christian said he had counted 11 trolleys on Howick Street alone, but knows there are many more littering the streets. 

He said it is very clear which businesses are to blame and why. 

“I really want to shame Coles, Woolworths, Target, Big W,” Cr Christian said. 

"The more I read into this and the more homework I do, it seems that you're getting trolleys from Big W, Target, Woolworths and Coles, but you're not getting them from Aldi and there is a reason for that – they use the locks.

“You put your $2 in and you return [the trolley] and you get your $2 back."

He said Bathurst Regional Council supports businesses in the city and they need show the same level of support by keeping trolleys off the streets. 

"This is an issue that has been going on for 10 years and it does make the town look unsightly. We support these big companies and I would like to see them support us back by ensuring their unsightly trolleys aren't just left all over the town,” Cr Christian said. 

“I know they employ people to pick them up, but they need to do a better job."

Part of council’s enforcement is to charge a $46 fee to the businesses if council collects one of their trolleys.

Cr Christian said he would support increasing that fee in an effort to encourage the businesses to be more proactive. 

“It takes a community effort to clean up these trolleys, but unfortunately some people are bone lazy, however ultimately it’s the big supermarkets responsibility,” he said.

“I’d take the current weak council penalty of $46 to $100.” 

Cr Christian has joined a number of councillors who have criticised businesses for their careless attitude towards trolleys. 

Cr Warren Aubin is one of the most vocal and has been calling for action since he joined council, while deputy mayor Bobby Bourke has previously collected trolleys to make a point. 

Cr Christian plans to keep pushing the supermarkets and council to get the trolley problem under control.