The Editor,
Re. “City’s trash rules are established and well known” (Letters, The Tri-City News, Oct. 14).
I must disagree with the letter writers B. Viney and Leah Comuzzi. Prior to the amendments to the solid waste bylaw, Coquitlam was divided into “identified bear activity areas” and “non-bear activity areas.” If you lived in a non-bear activity area, you were able to put your garbage out no earlier than 9 p.m. the night before and no later than 7 a.m.
I consider myself to be fairly community aware and I did not hear about this change until about six weeks after the fact. Well publicized? I think not.
Perhaps making the change in the summer, when people are on vacation fewer people are reading the newspaper. I did see a flyer but how many people toss those the bundle of those in the trash?
It is unfair to fine residents $500 for something they may not be aware of. I would prefer the city hand out warnings, send a notice (not bulk mail) or have a grace period in these “non-bear activity areas” so that residents are not unfairly fined for doing what they have always done.
Leona Healy, Coquitlam
