Why should we the people continue to pay for the shopping carts to be returned to stores through a city service? Should not the stores be responsible for their own assets? Should not the city service simply deliver the shopping carts to a recycling center every Friday?

A good solution to this problem is to have every store in the city install locking sensors that automatically lock the shopping carts within a certain feet away from the store.  This will be a win win solution for both  the residents that have to pay for the service, and the stores as well.

yes i think the stores should be responsible for their own properties.