One man’s trash is a bear’s treasure but the District of Elkford is trying to decrease the number of animal attractants in the community.
Elkford is currently looking at solutions for wildlife problems with commercial garbage collection.
“This is an issue of cleaning up garbage collection so we don’t have bear interactions,” said Mayor Steve Fairbairn.
“Removing sources of food so they don’t stay in town. That’s going to require a change in how we do what we do and the terms of the collection contracts in terms of customers.”
The district wrapped up a survey last week to weigh the best options for decreasing attractants for commercial bins.
“The survey is choices between how we are going to do that, but we are going to do it. So far we are getting tons of support.”
The district has proposed a hybrid garbage collection model that would allow collection for users who do not have wildlife issues and require those who do to switch to steel, locking bins.
“I’m not expecting really any opposition to it. We have a planned trial where we’ve offered up the new bear-proof collection bins to a number of commercial properties,” the mayor added.
“We’re going to start with the people who want to do it and are on board which sets it up for success. I believe that within a few months to a year, we will see a real difference in where the bear encounters are and see fewer of them.”
With changes coming to the commercial side, the district says wildlife will likely move to residential garbage.
The district will be rolling out wildlife-resistant bins to all residential customers during the 2025 budget year, which will come with a fee increase.
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