COLLINS: We can’t bear a new city bylaw

ASIDE FROM MAKING US HOLD our garbage in our carports or garages until 4:00 AM on the day of pickup, we are now facing additional costs to make our bins bear-proof, which in essence means we could have to build special containers or structures to keep bears at bay. Considering how strong and industrious bears are, that could be a very expensive task.

A news release this week from the City points out a bylaw change that makes residents responsible for ensuring that all containers be stored safely and protected from wildlife.

We’re being encouraged to purchase sheds or other bear-proof structures and to put scraps of meat and other strong-smelling waste into a freezer until garbage day.

I think we pay enough already to the City for waste disposal and, while I am very empathetic toward the plight of the bears, I am not prepared to buy a special enclosure. Nor am I prepared to use my freezer to store garbage until garbage day.