The City of Kamloops is going to be offering up bigger options for those who want bear-resistant garbage bins, while also clarifying the rules around them.

City council has approved the purchase of 300, 245 litre carts, which the city will lease to homeowners who want them.

Environmental Services Manager Glen Farrow has told council these new carts are much larger than the 120 litre bear-resistant carts the city originally ordered when they launched the program in early July.

“Residents have the option of having this larger container for garbage services,” said Farrow.  “120 litres might be difficult for some customers, some larger families.”

Those who choose to lease the larger bins will have to pay a fair amount more than those who want to lease the smaller, 120 litre bins.

While the lease fee for the larger bins is only 3 dollars more per year, the City is going to charge you $150 for the annual collection fee.

The fee for the 120 litre containers is $78.

Like the smaller ones, the bigger bear-resistant carts are available on-request, as the City has decided against a bear-resistant garbage bin mandate.

City clarifies rules around bear bins

The City of Kamloops, in amending its solid waste bylaw on Tuesday, also used the opportunity to set out the rules surrounding bear-resistant bins.

• Residents must ensure that solid waste carts are stored securely and made inaccessible to wildlife.
• Between April 1 and November 30, carts must not be placed at the curb earlier than 4:00 am on collection day and must be removed from the curb no later than 7:00 pm on collection day year-round.
• No property owner or occupier shall accumulate, store, or collect any wildlife attractants unless stored in an enclosed structure or securely fastened bear-resistant cart.
• Residents must ensure lids of bear-resistant carts are securely fastened when carts are not set at the curb for collection.
• Residents must ensure clips on bear-resistant carts are unfastened by 7:00 am on collection day and refastened by 7:00 pm on collection day.

Anyone found breaking these rules could be subject to a $100 fine.

“Implementation of the community-wide bear-resistant solid waste cart program will begin with residents living on the pilot program route,” said the City in a release.  “The City will be delivering information this month to those households about how to contact the City with any cart change requests.”