Kamloops residents can now request bear-resistant garbage bins

The city is launching its optional bear resistant solid waste cart program to mark the start of Bear Smart season.

The program was tested out in the Juniper Ridge area in late 2023.

As of April 1, the program is in full effect and residents, especially those living in neighbourhoods adjacent to wildlife corridors where bear sightings are common, can sign up and register for a cart.

“The most common bear attractant is mismanaged solid waste. Unsecured solid waste carts are an easy food source for bears,” explained Danielle Sparks, the City’s Environmental Services Supervisor.

Each cart has a reinforced lid with two carabiner-styler clips, making it difficult for bears and other wildlife to access the contents.

The carts are available for organic waste and two different sizes of garbage bins for an additional $20 per cart per year.

Sparks said offering these carts to interested residents is just one step the city takes as a designated Bear Smart community.

Click here for a list of cart sizes and costs.

All requests for bear-resistant carts are first-come, first-served and can be made by calling (250) 828-3461 or emailing [email protected].

The city says the carts will be swapped out on a future collection day and will be notified in advance.

All Kamloops residents are reminded of updates to the Solid Waste, Recyclables and Organics bylaw to clarify resident’s responsibility around managing wildlife attractants.

That includes ensuring carts are stored securely and made inaccessible to wildlife, not placing carts out any earlier than 4 am on collection day and removing them by 7 pm, not accumulating or storing any wildlife attractants, ensuring lids are securely fastened when not at the curb and ensuring the clips on the bear-resistant carts are unfastened by 7 am so they can be emptied.

Infractions of the bylaw may result in a $100 fine.