"Bear-resistant" Bins Spark Concern
Big changes in store for garbage collection
Planned changes to garbage collection in the Village are drawing negative feedback from some residents.
In a recent letter to Council (and copied to The Watershed), Bear Smart team member Norma Rodgers expressed outrage that a new garbage collection contract for the Village had been signed without consultation with residents.
At the September 1 Council meeting, a number of local residents stepped forward to speak against a proposed bylaw change that staff put forward in response to the signing of a contract with GFL as the Village's new waste disposal company.
The proposed bylaws indicate that all Village households will be provided with new 'bear-resistant' bins (in a choice of two sizes) for both garbage and green waste. These bins are a standard size in order to accommodate the automatic arms in the collection trucks, which are mechanically-operated. No smaller bins will be allowed.
At the Council meeting, residents expressed dismay over new limitations to the volume of green waste each week. Bayview Road resident Dierdre Bain said the proposed new waste removal program —which limits garden debris to a single container weekly —seems completely contrary to the current efforts to limit wildlife attractants. Bain also said she was concerned that these changes are moving forward without sufficient resident consultation, and strongly urged Council to reconsider.
North Shore Black Bear Society Executive Director Holly Reisner spoke to members of Council regarding the problems both North Vancouver and Squamish have had with bears breaking into similar so-called bear-resistant bins.
Noting that the clips do not deter bears, Reisner said the animals "tip the bins and use their claws or head to pop the lid open and break the clips right off. Or, they tear the lid off at the hinges. Another technique is to jump on the carts until they crack open."
A number of other residents echoed these concerns at the meeting.
The three readings of the bylaw that had been requested by staff were not passed by Council. The discussion that followed grew so heated that the Mayor called a five-minute recess to restore order.
After the session resumed, Chief Administrative Officer Ross Blackwell told Council that they had "put staff into an impossible position that we had warned you about."
That week's edition of the Village Update offered a summary of the process taken to secure the new garbage contract:
"At its August 12 Special Meeting, Council directed staff to proceed with securing the new service provider and transitioning to universal totes. Staff subsequently brought forward amendments to the Solid Waste and Recycling Collection Bylaw needed to accommodate automated collection. Council did not approve those amendments at its September 1 meeting. The proposed changes were operational in nature and included updating definitions and redundant provisions, revising the morning set-out window, allowing animal-resistant totes to be unclipped when placed at the curb, and establishing the spacing required for automated collection.
The existing requirements governing the secure storage of waste and wildlife attractants were not proposed to change."
The August 12 Special Meeting cited was closed to the public, so there was no opportunity for resident input in the decision.
In her letter, Rodgers notes that the new system means residents will be "burdened with large bins containing small amounts of garbage", and that the 120 litre tote for organics/green waste poses a problem during the times of year when residents are clearing large amounts of green waste outside of spring and summer.
She also noted her concern for residents who have to maneuver large cans down steep driveways.
"I'm asking other residents who object to these changes to write to Council this week," Rodgers says. "We expect the subject of the waste disposal contract to be addressed again at next week's meeting. How will these changes to the garbage bylaw affect them? Council needs to know this to make an informed decision."
Editor's Note: Director of Operations Eric Villeneuve clarified today that the pick-up of additional craft bags of green waste has been negotiated with GFL, and will be regularly scheduled, based on demand. "As we're not sure of the demand just yet, it will be a bit of a feeling-out process to begin with," Villeneuve said, noting that pick-up could be weekly or bi-weekly, depending on the season and on demand.
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I agree that this is missing factual information. Those of us who follow Bear Smart saw a number of posts to members urging them to write to council before the last meeting or the city would be returning to storing garbage outside (or something like that). There was no similar effort on the other side. Naturally the voices heard were those who got this call to action.
Personally, I think the new bins look great - love how sturdy and substantial they are. Better still, I understand they’ll be provided to residents free of charge. I think this piece is also missing the information that the new contract will save the city a considerable sum (20k plus annually). I understand…
The Sept 4th Village Update report from Public Works DOO “From the Yard” stated yes green waste collection will be unlimited, and in Kraft bags, but no mention we can use all our currents bins or bundles. However, he stated those additional collections will be in “high-volume periods in Spring & Summer” but he did not indicate anything about Fall or all through storm cleanup season of Nov., Dec., until Spring being included. Fall is the time all gardens are cut back and piles of green waste is created. His report did not state there would be a second truck run every Friday to do these additional collection trips (where is this info located for residents to read “all t…
Some people are chosing "selective hearing" and this report should be more factual. If I heard correctly, the amount of green waste will be unlimited during the spring/summer and fall seasons. The current bags will be accepted when the service provider makes a second run on the Fridays. I know it is election season, but if you want to be credible, you have to be factual and this means presenting "all the facts" Now, until mid October, especially so. Want to make an addition to your piece?
Apparently the conract has been signed and GFL will be our waste hauler next year. But I want residents to let Council know we expect some consultation when a major change that impacts us all is considered.