More than 1.5 million trolleys are dumped in England and Wales each year, landing local authorities with a massive clear-up bill. Although councils can reclaim the costs of removal, storage and disposal of abandoned carts from retailers, the LGA said this was time-consuming and bureaucratic.
Instead, supermarkets should do more to deter thefts such as increased use of bollards and security gates, wheel-locking devices and more CCTV in stores.
LGA environment spokesman Peter Box said: “Supermarkets need to slam the brakes on trolley thefts because the country is becoming blighted with abandoned carts.
“Councils, who are doing everything they can to tackle this burgeoning blight, are being left with a major clear-up bill. We want to see the supermarket giants step up their game and show real leadership over this issue.”
Government figures published last week showed that fly tipping has increased for the second year in a row, incurring a clear-up cost of almost £50m.
The LGA said ministers should consider these pressures on councils as they prepare for next month’s Spending Review.