Coquitlam is abandoning what it thought a few years ago might be a solution to preventing bears from getting into garbage carts.
Even though they work, Coquitlam will not be installing gravity locks on all of its carts because other strategies are proving effective making it difficult to justify the $6 million cost.
Three years ago, the city began pilot testing the locks to see if they would help deter bears when carts are left at the curb on collection day. Approximately 50 residents were given the locks. They proved effective even if the carts were left out over a 12-hour period or more, according to a report written by Steffanie Warriner, the city’s manager of environmental services. The new morning-afternoon zones in the city’s most bear-prone areas, however, shortens the exposure time.
The report notes the locks don’t stop the bears from being attracted by the smell. It said installing the gravity locks on all carts would imply to residents their carts are bear proof, which is an unrealistic expectation that could end up coming back to bite the city. Many residents, the report suggested, would revert to back to their old ways of managing their garbage, and the bear-proof assumption could be used to argue against a ticket for setting out carts too early.
Since the restructuring of its collection routes a year ago there has been a 37% decrease in complaints to wildlife officials of bears getting into garbage in Coquitlam. Staff also credited increased awareness by residents and effective enforcement for the reduction.
Retrofitting the carts with gravity locks would cost between $125 and $165 per cart, depending on type or size, for a total cost of $6 million. The report said giving residents the option to install the locks at their own expense would cost too much for many Coquitlam residents, and although they would have purchased it the locks would become city property once installed.
Mayor Richard Stewart reluctantly voted to not go ahead with the retrofitting.
“Either way we’re going to have residents second guess our decision,” said Stewart. “They want an easy solution, even though an easy solution isn’t always available.
“I was really hopeful that it was going to be a solution. I know there were a lot who thought it was an obvious solution.”
Coun. Dennis Marsden, who along with Coun Craig Hodge had carts with the locks, opposed ditching the locks saying residents should still have the option to buy a lock.
“Nothing is bear proof, but they’re a deterrent. I’ve seen where they knock it over and it doesn’t open and they move on,” said Marsden.
“It’s about having the tools in the tool box. I want to have that tool.”
