Boulder bear resistant trash containers
On March 18th, 2014 the Boulder City Council adopted ordinance 7962. It requires all trash and compost located in the secure trash regulation zone (see map below) to be secured from bears at all times.
Essentially if you live between Sumac Ave in north Boulder and the south Boulder city limits, and west of Broadway, you need Boulder bear resistant trash containers ASAP! Residents were given plenty of time to get organized with a new Boulder bear resistant trash containers. The first area to be implemented and enforced is that which is north of Dartmouth and south of Hawthorn Ave.
Secure Your Compost and Trash (Recycling Excluded)
All compost and trash carts, containers, dumpsters, or enclosures must be bear-resistant;
OR
Stored in a building, house, garage, shed or other enclosed structure until emptied by a trash hauler.
If you put your carts or containers outside at anytime, those containers must be bear resistant. (This includes just before trash collection.) The rule became effective May 20th, 2014:
On June 4, staff mailed postcards announcing the new ordinance requirements to 9,392 residents, landowners and property managers in the First Trash Implementation Zone, which includes areas where waste is collected from alleys. Code Enforcement officers have begun educating community members about the new ordinance. They are providing informational door hangers when they observe waste violations or make contact for waste-related issues in the First Trash Implementation Zone.
Are you a Western Disposal customer, like me?
Western Disposal has developed, tested, and begun production of a bear-resistant retrofit for their existing waste carts and will begin delivery of retrofitted Boulder bear resistant trash containers on June 23rd. Western Disposal has also ordered bear-resistant metal lids for the dumpsters currently in use at many commercial and multifamily properties. While the cost associated with the retrofitted Boulder bear resistant trash containers has not been officially announced, it is believed to be lower than initially thought. The additional cost will not be passed along to consumers until 2015. (Expect about $15/month for dumpster at a multi-family unit.)
The city will determine and announce the ordinance enforcement date for the First Trash Implementation Zone later this month, once local waste haulers better understand their timelines for producing bear-resistant containers for all residents and businesses. The enforcement date for the entire Secure Trash Regulation Zone will be determined at a later date. Staff is also coordinating the planned addition of meat and dairy to compost containers with the implementation of this ordinance.
For more information:
Other trash service providers working with the City of Boulder are One Way and Republic Services.
Example of bear resistant trash bin
Education, Enforcement and Fines for not having a Boulder bear resistant trash containers when required:
- The fine for a first offense is $250.
- Code enforcement officers may issue tickets in-person or deliver citations to property owners via email, mail, or printed notification.
The city also enhancing education and enforcement efforts by:
- focusing education on rental properties, where resident turnover is typically higher;
- adding one to two code enforcement officers; and
- having code enforcement officers check for violations at each address twice per week during four months of the bear season, which extends from March 15 through Nov. 1.