Waste Management

This section provides information on effective waste management practices for communities. To achieve bear smart status, a community must invest in a bear-proof waste handling system, from the point of disposal to the landfill or transfer station.   Bear-proof Waste Containment Garbage must be kept secure and unavailable to wildlife at all times. In order to ensure the safety of residents and visitors, all public waste containers in bear country must be bear-proof, whether they're downtown or in a park. These pedestrian containers can be located just about anywhere, increasing user convenience and material collected. Containers are available in single or double size, for garbage and/or recycling. There are several companies that make bear-proof waste containers for home use. Residents should be encouraged to purchase bear-proof containers or they should be supplied by the waste contractor or local government. It is also highly advisable to ensure that municipal bylaws mandate bear-proof waste containment. Many products are available - some are bear-resistant and some claim to be bear-proof. Download the guidelines for bear-proof (resistant) waste containment. You may order or download a Resource Guide from the Living with Wildlife Foundation that contains a comprehensive list of Bear-Resistant Trash Containers. The guide is very comprehensive and a MUST for any community pursuing bear smart status.

Bear Saver Models

Haul All Hid-a-Bag (single)		Haul All Hid-a-Bag (double)		Haul All Hid-a-Bag (recycling)

Effective Waste Management Systems: Community officials should seriously consider eliminating curbside pick up. Providing bears with access to garbage creates the potential for human-bear conflict and an unsafe environment for residents. Curbside pick-up can be replaced with communal waste containers placed conveniently throughout the community. A community can choose to implement smaller 6 yd. containers within a one-block radius of any residence or install more centrally located larger bear-proof compactor sites. Each system has its advantages and disadvantages. For the most part, the easier and more convenient it is for residents to use the containers the more likely they are to do so. Ideally, the receptacles should be within walking distance from any residence. More centrally located systems create problems for people without vehicle access to get their garbage to the compactor site. Waste and recylcling containers may also be kept inside bear-proof (resistant) enclosures to make them inaccessible to wildlife. Download sample Guidelines for Bear-proof Waste Enclosures. Download criteria for bear-proof (resistant) enclosures (see part two of document). Download - The Importance of Infrastructure Development in Wilderness Locations. The analysis suggests that there is a significant social and financial benefit from investing in the healthy status of wildlife in shared wilderness locations.

Commercial Containers HaulAll Bear Saver

Purchasing pedestrian and commercial containers:

All containers should be tested and certified bear-proof by an independent group, like the Living with Wildlife Foundation. Download guidelines for bear-proof (resistant) waste containment.

Eliminating Curbside Pick-up - The Canmore Experience Ideally, a community should consider eliminating curbside pick-up. The town of Canmore, Alberta has successfully eliminated curbside waste collection and implemented a cost effective animal proof waste handling system. Download the Canmore Experience. Word Document. PDF. This 10 page document details the events, challenges and successes that lead to the elimination of curbside waste collection and the implementation of a communal animal proof waste handling system. The following will be addressed: Atmosphere leading to the decision to eliminate curbside waste collection Importance of public involvement (Waste Management Committee) Requirements for expert input Steps taken to site the containers Public education process Ongoing Challenges NOTE: If your residential waste system includes curb-side pick-up, bear-proof containers and storage facilities should be mandatory. A community's bylaws/ordinances should also be amended to provide enforcement options. A tagging program can also help with compliance.

Implementation

Ideally, bear-proof containers should be placed in the most critical areas first - those that are accessed by bears most frequently. The results of your Bear Hazard Assessment study will help you identify those areas. Theoretically, an area should be bear-proofed from the periphery toward the centre, discouraging bears from entering town limits. Pay particular attention to bear travel corridors, such as riparian zones and hydro-ways. You may also want to ensure all school zones and playgrounds receive priority. Pedestrian-style waste containers must be securely anchored to the ground to prevent tipping (a common problem).

Funding

To encourage financial support of a community's bear-proofing efforts, you can initiate an "Adopt-a-Bear-Proof-Bin" program. Ask local businesses to support bear-roofing initiatives through donations. Plaques can be placed on the bin indicating the donor's generosity.

Landfills or Transfer Stations

All landfills or transfer stations in bear country must be inaccessible to wildlife. Electric fencing is the most effect way to deter animals from this type of highly attractive site.

Reduce, Re-use and Recycle

Bear Smart Communities should promote the three R's to reduce the amount of garbage that is produced. Here are some suggestions on how your community can reduce, re-use or recycle its waste.

• Recycling Facilities
  Facilities for recycling should be available in all bear smart communities. Recyclable items include newsprint, mixed paper, cardboard, plastics #1-7, plastic bags, tin, aluminum and glass. Containers that offer a refund should be returned to the appropriate retail facility or public depot.

  Recycling facilities can be established at a permanent site, or a recycling trailer can be moved to different locations on each day of the week i.e. it could be stationed downtown every Monday, at the mall every Tuesday and at the entrance to a particular subdivision Wednesday etc.

  Please be aware that even empty beverage containers will attract bears to recycling facilities. For this reason, containers provided for recycling collection must be either bear-proof or located in a bear-proof enclosure. Recyclables should also be rinsed to be free of all food waste and odours that attract wildlife.

  Items like, tires, car batteries, yard debris, gypsum board, paint, steel & appliances can be accepted at the landfill and disposed of properly.
  
  Closing the Loop...When a large quantity of recycled material is collected free of contamination it becomes a marketable product. Collection is just the first step in the recycling process. Material must be properly sorted and transported to several different companies for processing and distribution. These companies either reuse the material or manufacture other products. Recycling can only work if we purchase products that are made of recycled material. By doing this you are closing the loop. By properly preparing your recyclables for drop off you will be helping to:

  • Prevent pollution and reduce the volume that ends up in the landfill
  • Save natural resources
  • Reduce the amount of energy wasted and air pollution produced when raw materials are refined and made into products
  
  
• ReUse-it Centre
  A facility can be established to accept donations of used clothing, household items, small furnishings, sporting goods, cds, books, toys and other necessities. These items can be resold to community members at low prices. Proceeds can be used to support community service programs. A ReUse-it Centre was established in Whistler, BC in 2000. The facility has been a huge success and has expanded its space several times. For more information, contact reuseit@whistlerweb.com or 604-932-1121. The community is also working toward opening a Builing Supplies ReUse-it Centre.

• Composting
  Composting is nature's way of recycling organic material back into the soil. The process has been happening since life began. Home composting is simple, inexpensive, and easy. The whole process (from discarded kitchen scraps to soil amendment) takes 6-12 months and produces a rich, fertile material that adds life to your garden and lawn.
  
  Composters can be made or bought (local hardware stores or garden centres), and should be located in a well-drained area of your yard that receives, ideally, at least 6 hours of sunlight/day. Place your bin a comfortable distance from your house and away from any bear travel corridors. Turn your compost once every other week using a garden hoe, shovel, or other tool, to ensure proper aeration. The secret to "good" compost is ensuring a healthy combination of air, water, and organics. Your pile should always be as wet as a well wrung out sponge. At no time should the bin smell bad. If it stinks, simply turn it more often.
  
  To ensure your compost doesn't attract bears:
  
  
• Keep your compost clean and odour free.
• Never compost meat, fish, oil, grease, or dairy products.
• Sprinkle your compost with lime to aid in decomposition and reduce odour. Cover kitchen waste with brown material (dry leaves or dried grass clippings). Keep compost aerated and properly turned.
• Locate compost heap well away from forest edge, thickets and natural pathways used by bears.
• Start a community compost heap at your local electric-fenced landfill.
  

  Try Vermicomposting. It's the practice of composting using one type of worm, commonly known as the red wriggler. Worms are kept in a large plastic tote indoors (in most cases) and are ideal for apartment dwellers or people who cannot compost outdoors. Check out the dirt on Indoor Composting.

• Trash Compactors
  
  Trash compactors can be used to reduce the overall volume of trash that must be stored until it can be disposed of. There are many sizes and models of indoor compactors to choose from. Most appliance stores carry 'under-the counter' trash compactors for home use.
  
  Compactors for commercial or industrial use are also available to suit a variety of needs. For a consumer review and links to sites that sell residential, commercial, and industrial compactors, try http://www.epinions.com/hmgd-Large_Appliances-All-Compactors.