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New Garbage Collection - FAQs
Key Contacts
- Aggressive Bears - Provincial Conservation Office - 1.877.952.7277 (RAPP)
- Bears that are an IMMEDIATE THREAT - RCMP - 911
- Bear Sightings on Trails/Parks - Parks & Services - 604.927.5480
- City Waste Collection Services - 604.927.5488 or 604.927.5496
- Critter Guard Installation - 778.789.1854 or 604.992.5353
- Solid Waste Infractions / Fines - Bylaw Enforcement - 604.927.5440
City staff are here to help you find solutions to protect you, your neighbourhood and bears. If the information you need is not included below, please contact the appropriate department or agency listed above for further assistance.
Why has the City of Port Coquitlam made changes to their Solid Waste bylaw?
The City places a high priority on public and bear safety and these measures are necessary to ensure both.
The changes are part of the City’s ongoing efforts to address the community’s escalating bear problem, which saw nine bears killed in Port Coquitlam in 2008 because they became habituated to human food sources such as garbage and fallen fruit. From May to July 15, 2009, more than 125 bears were spotted in Port Coquitlam, one bear was killed and three more were relocated.
In addition, there have been several reported incidents of bears invading homes in search of food. Some may recall that, in 2008, a resident in a neighbouring municipality was attacked by a bear. This is not normal bear behaviour – it is occurring now because the bears associate human with food.
In order to prevent future occurrences, we need to ensure that the bears in our community do not become habituated to humans and human food.
More than 50% of the calls to the Provincial Conservation Office regarding bears in Port Coquitlam reported bears in garbage.
Am I in the area where the bylaw will be enforced?
Refer to the map available online for the current designated enforcement area.
The area includes all Port Coquitlam neighbourhoods north of Lougheed Highway, and the area south of Lougheed Highway along the river that is bounded by Shaughnessy Street, Pitt River Road and Lougheed Highway.
Residents should note that the Solid Waste Bylaw regulations apply to all Port Coquitlam properties – commercial and residential – however, due to lack of current bear activity in other areas, only the designated areas will be subject to enforcement at this time.If the designated enforcement area changes or is expanded, affected residents will be notified.
How were the enforcement areas determined?
Recorded bear activity and the likely occurrence of bear-human conflicts to occur, were used to determine the designated enforcement area.
My neighbourhood is in the designated enforcement area and I’ve never seen a bear in my area!
Bears are most active at night when humans are asleep. The Provincial Conservation Office has information and data that verifies that there is bear activity in all areas within the designated enforcement area.
Do I have to buy a Critter Guard™ system for my bins?
You have options! If you have a garage or secure locked shed, you may keep your waste collection bins in until the morning of pick up and put them out anytime between 5:30 and 7:30 am. A Critter Guard™ is not necessary if you are keeping your bins inside.
If you do not have a garage or shed, and you receive City collection services, you will need a City-approved wildlife-resistant locking device, such as Critter Guard™, installed on your garbage (grey lid) and green waste (green lid) carts.
I live in a multi-family complex and don’t receive collection services from the City, what should I do to make my waste container bear resistant?
If you receive private collection services and do not have either a garage or a secured waste storage area, you should contact your strata council or private collection company to determine the best solution for your multi-family complex.
The Bear Aware™ website (www.bearaware.bc.ca) also has additional information regarding bear resistant containers that have received Bear Aware endorsement.
Why do I have to get a Critter Guard™ or other Bear Aware™ endorsed system? Can’t I make my own?
For properties that receive City collection, the bylaw requirement is for a bear-resistant retrofit of the City provided carts. The only CERTIFIED and Bear Aware™ endorsed retrofit on the market available for the City-supplied carts is the Critter Guard™. It has passed very strict testing and certification.
Bungee cords and chains installed on the City carts and other waste collection devices have failed in the past and, consequently, are not certified as bear resistant.
Is the city going to replace all their non bear-resistant bins?
Indeed the City is working to replace its existing waste containers with bear-resistant bins. The Parks & Recreation Department, City of Port Coquitlam and Bear Aware are working closely to determine the highest bear activity levels areas. Waste containers in these areas will be the first ones replaced. It’s also important to consider that, for the most part, the waste containers in City parks do not contain the type of garbage that serve as bear attractants (i.e. food waste).
In addition, there are hundreds of waste containers within the City to be replaced. Because the City does not wish to create a huge tax burden to taxpayers, we are developing a plan and replacement strategy that will address safety while being mindful of the need for fiscal responsibility.
If I have a Critter Guard™, can I leave my bin on the street at night?
ALL bins must be kept off the street at night. A Critter Guard™ allows your bin to be kept outside of your home on your property.
Bins on the street at night are a bear attractant to the newest bears coming into town just passing through. Until they become habituated to garbage as a food source, bears are unlikely to approach a residence.
In order to ensure that the bears do not have easy access to our garbage, we need to keep those bins off the streets.
I know that residents in other municipalities were given bear resistant containers for ‘free’. Why not us?
It’s important to consider a few factors:
- City-supplied services or products are not ‘free’ – they are funded by the property taxes collected by the municipality. Ultimately, the property owner pays through their property taxes.
- By providing property owners and residents with other storage options, such as securing bins in a garage, Port Coquitlam has made it possible for many residents to comply with the bylaw at no additional cost.
- At $75 per cart for the Critter Guard™ system, Port Coquitlam’s bear resistant system is the most cost-effective solution currently being offered in the Tri-Cities.
When the automated system was put in place in 2002, bear activity was not reported at a level of concern.
Given the spike in bear activity in our neighbourhoods, the City needs to now take the measures necessary to protect residents from dangerous conflicts.
The real problem with bears is the development on Burke Mountain taking away their habitat. It has nothing to do with garbage.
There are studies after studies that have been carefully done to determine that, although all over North America, bear habitat is indeed being reduced, the number one reason that bears come into urban areas is because we provide them with a ready source of food in our garbage.
Bear Aware and other wildlife agencies have consistent data that verifies that the measures Port Coquitlam has put in place to manage the garbage situation will lessen the opportunity for bear-human conflicts to occur.
The Provincial Conservation RAPP Line, who receive all provincial wildlife complaint calls, inform us that more than 50% of bear complaints they receive are due to bears in garbage.
Where can I get a Critter Guard™?
Critter Guard™ is available directly from the Canadian manufacturer by calling the local installer at 604.992.5353.
Upon receiving your call, the supplier will make arrangements to come out to your home and install the Critter Guard™ system on site.
Why didn’t the City negotiate with Critter Guard™ for a cheaper price?
Critter Guard has reduced their price for Port Coquitlam residents from $90 per cart to $75 per cart (this includes installation and all taxes).
What if I move? Can I remove the Critter Guard device and take it with me?
If you are moving within Port Coquitlam, and wish to take your retrofitted carts with you, please call Engineering and Operations at 604-927-5488. They will make arrangements to have your cart serial numbers transferred to your new address, and pick up the carts left by the previous resident.
If you are moving outside of Port Coquitlam you will need to leave your carts with the new owners. Most sellers will decide to cover the cost of the retrofit within the selling price of their home.
My work schedule or personal circumstances make it difficult for me put my bin out between 5:30 and 7:30 am. Will I be ticketed for having my bin out the night before pick up?
The City has put the new waste collection regulations in place to ensure the safety of our citizens as well as protect the bears that live in our community. It is important that everyone adhere to the regulations if we’re going to make our streets safer.
Our first priority is to find solutions that allow us to meet our safety objectives. We assume our residents also value community safety and hope they will work with us to keep their street safer.
We encourage you to carefully consider other options:
- Is there anyone else within your home who could put the carts curbside on the morning of collection?
- Is there a neighbour who could assist you?
