Anmore's garbage bylaw will be toughened up and residents issued with animal-resistant bins to reduce the potential for human/bear conflicts, says the village's mayor.
Heather Anderson, who said Monday's bear attack at Countryside Village in Anmore is concerning, said the village council is working out the final details for the new garbage system, which will be implemented next spring.
"We brought it up for discussion six weeks ago," said Anderson, who said some bins are already available for $158 and have been purchased by a few homeowners.
Anderson, who has young children, is concerned about bear activity in her neighbourhood and purchased one of the bins herself.
"We want to eliminate the option to put out [garbage], bags although the majority do put it out in sealed containers," Anderson said.
The village council was also expected to discuss the volunteer position of a Bear Aware co-ordinator at Tuesday's meeting. "Anmore residents have lived with bears for a long time, we're very aware of that issue," she said.
Council has met with both Coquitlam Bear Aware co-ordinator Drake Stephens and Port Coquitlam Mayor Greg Moore to talk about managing animal attractants. Anmore hopes to implement a system similar to one that has been in place for two years in PoCo.
Meanwhile, the private operator who collects Anmore's garbage says he welcomes the potential introduction of bear-resistant bins, even if it takes longer to pick up the waste.
"I think it's worth the effort," said Kevin Spence, who noted animals, especially ravens, pick apart the trash and bears knock over the bins to get at the garbage.
