Our policy
For homeowners, business owners, and common consumers, bears can become a big problem if not handled correctly. The common problem is having accessible trash outdoors that is appealing to a bear. Colorado Parks and Wildlife researchers concluded that increasing bear-human conflicts do not mean the bear population is growing but that bears are adapting to take advantage of urban expansion.
In Garfield County we are seeing a correlation between bears and accessible trash. Trash in and around Garfield County is taken care of by private trash companies, such as Mountain Roll Offs, VIP Services, and Mountain Waste and Recycling. The problem with this is that most of the trash companies, with the exception of Waste Management are not offering the bear proof containers.
Waste Management offers a lease of a bear resistant container for a small fee every month. The will repair or replace the container if it is ever damaged.
To provide the option of bear proof containers we must first find a way to fund it. The Colorado Parks and Wildlife or the county need to find a possible way to grant funding, making it possible for private trash companies to offer bear proof containers to residents and business owners for a discounted price. Once local companies have the ability to give homeowners access to bear proof containers for a affordable price, we can start to enforce the use of them in our area. Then it will be up to the residents of Garfield County to responsibly use them in order to keep bears out of the area.
Our Policy1. All homes and businesses with the 3 mile development radius of towns should follow the same trash regulations as is required inside city limits. 2. Law enforcement should enforce the new trash regulations both within city limits and within the 3 mile development radius.3.Trash companies should upgrade containers and provide homeowners with compliant bear resistant containers.