A recent outbreak of abandoned trolleys led the council and supermarket representatives to meet and discuss the issue once again. A similar meeting occurred in June 2014.

Goulburn Mulwaree Mayor Geoff Kettle said last week's meeting was productive. "We are negotiating with trolley collectors to change pickup times to get them later in the day," Cr Kettle said. "The main problem is after-hours: trolleys are being left out all night. They become missiles for shop windows.

"We also spoke about them installing coin-operated systems or installing premise containment systems that cause the wheels to lock if the trolley is taken a certain distance from the shopping centre, but these are expensive to install. So we have to educate the public again.

"It is not unique to Goulburn. It happens all over the state. It is our second meeting on this in three years. After we talk, it gets better for a while, then it reverts to this."

Cr Bob Kirk agreed the biggest issue was "getting people to return them," he said. "We need to encourage people to be aware of the problems they create in the city."

He said it seemed coin-operated trolleys were "not an option these supermarkets are keen to pursue".

"This seems to me to be a solution, but they will only do it if they all do it at the same time and this is unlikely," Cr Kirk said. "There is a need to expand the range of collection processes on behalf of the supermarkets and they are exploring this.

"The supermarket representatives have agreed to have more regular meetings with council rangers as well."

Cr Kirk said there were 50 trolleys in the council impoundment area and 20 at the back of the police station, but none of the supermarkets were in a hurry to bail them out.

Cr Kettle said there was a discussion to drop the impoundment fee to $70, because at the current $150 fee, the supermarkets "could almost replace them for that price".

Representatives of Coles, Woolworths and Kmart were at the meeting.

"The meeting with the local council and other retailers was productive," a Woolworth's spokesperson said.

"Woolworths will extend our trolley contractor's collection hours so that additional sweeps of nearby streets can take place, improving the amenity of the local area."