Safety, Wellness, and Youth Committee
January 21, 2026

1/8/2026
1 RiversideCA.gov1
RiversideCA.govAbandoned Shopping Cart UpdateSafety, Wellness, and Youth CommitteeJanuary 21, 2026Public Works Department RiversideCA.gov2
BACKGROUND•3-month Shopping Cart Pilot Program aimed at:–Collecting abandoned carts containing items–Tracking data for all carts in the City–Evaluating operational efficiency & safety•Street Maintenance Worker reported shopping carts•Mitigation Crew responded to requests and collected carts

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2 RiversideCA.gov3
CATEGORIES OF CARTS1. Empty, abandoned shopping carts2. Shopping carts containing trash3. Shopping carts actively used by individuals experiencing homelessness RiversideCA.gov4
COLLABORATIVE SWEEPS•September 17, 2025–RPD, PSET, Public Works45 carts removed•October 22, 2025–RPD Only36 carts removed 81 Total Carts Removed
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3 RiversideCA.gov5

PILOT RESULTS
RiversideCA.gov6

PILOT RESULTS
*Not collected due to homeless presence

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4 RiversideCA.gov7
CHALLENGES•Safety concerns•Cart relocation•Reporting•Emergency response•Limited Staffing RiversideCA.gov8
COST ANALYSIS•In-House Service–2 Full-Time Maintenance Worker I–Equipment & Disposal Fees–Year 1: ~$237,000–Years 2-3: ~$167,000-$168,000•Outsource–Contracted service–Equipment & Disposal Fees–Year 1: $155,000–Years 2-3: ~$147,000-148,000

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5 RiversideCA.gov9

SHOPPING CART RETRIEVAL PROGRAM
•Improved response time•Lower monthly cart retrievals•Senate Bill 753 RiversideCA.gov10
RECOMMENDATIONThat the Safety, Wellness, and Youth Committee receive areport & provide input regarding results of Shopping CartPilot Program and the status of abandoned shopping cartscitywide.