Last fall, four bears were tragically euthanized due to their dependence on residential waste. As previously communicated, a committee was formed to address the multitude of requests asking the DRCA to take action to protect our wildlife and residents. The committee was made up of volunteers who came forward to offer assistance and in addition, several passionate residents were proactively contacted to ask if they would participate. Everyone joined in enthusiastically. After several months of research and information gathering, it became abundantly clear that waste management was a critical component to success or failure in all communities similar to ours that had also tackled co-existing with wildlife.
The DRCA then reached out to our Ward 6 office to seek their assistance in securing a meeting with the City of Calgary Waste and Recycling Services department. This meeting was granted and after hearing our presentation and request for their expertise and support, the Waste and Recycling department agreed and jumped on board to take the lead. The original request from the DRCA was twofold: one to have the City provide their expertise and resources regarding appropriate waste and recycling practices for a community such as ours and secondly, that Discovery Ridge immediately be considered for alternative bear-resistant green bins.
From there, the research and work done by the Waste and Recycling team was extensive and dozens of municipalities were contacted around North America for discussions and to learn from. A fulsome education and communication plan was developed, and the City’s Bear Awareness campaign actively began in May. Regular update meetings were held with the DRCA and feedback from the DRCA and committee was always accepted. After months of work, it was determined that the greatest successes come from bins being stored securely and not placed out over night for collection. In Discovery Ridge, bins should be stored in a secure location and not placed out for pick up prior to 5:00 am on pick up days. They should be stored away no later than 7:00 pm to minimize the opportunity for wildlife to become habituated to residential waste.
As part of the City’s review process, centralized bins, like those used in Canmore for example, were considered. It was determined that the decrease in service levels provided to the community, by moving from curb side pick up to drop off locations, was not appropriate at this time.
Regarding the green bins themselves, there are many alternative green bin options in existence which generally fall into one of two styles. One is a latch style that the resident must unlock and re-lock each time compost is added and then unlocked at curb side on pick up day. The second style has lids that are released at a certain height and angle above the collection truck. Communities that have this system reported a high failure rate of the bins not opening in areas with winter weather like ours. While the bin options were thoroughly investigated, the City has determined not to pursue alternative green bins at this time. This decision was based on the increased cost of bins and the high failure rates. The DRCA will continue to engage in conversation with the City regarding this matter; we have offered Discovery Ridge as a pilot community to try different options in the hope that alternative green bins can be further pursued and so the best bins can eventually be procured.
On July 27, proposed bylaw amendments were presented to the City of Calgary Community Development Committee. The proposal was unanimously passed so it will therefore proceed to City Council this fall for review, debate, required readings, and Council vote. The proposal would be for the Director of Waste and Recycling Services to designate a community, on a temporary basis, as a ‘wildlife affected area.’ If a community receives this designation, residents would be required to store bins in a secure location, place bins out for collection no earlier than 5:00 am on pick up days and secure them again no later than 7:00 pm during the designation period.
Summary of some of the initiatives and activities to date:
• Multiple communications from the DRCA and the City in the Ridge Review newsletter, MailChimp emails, Facebook, and other social media.
• At the request of the DRCA, the City developed the “Be Bear Smart” website: https://www.calgary.ca/waste/residential/be-bear-smart.html#:~:text=Alberta%20Fish%20%26%20Wildlife%20advises%20that,and%20any%20visiting%20bears%20safe.
• Campaigns: #keepbinsin and Don’t Feed the Bears a Midnight Snack.
• City of Calgary bold signs placed in the community.
• Door knocking campaign: City representatives knocked on the doors of all homes in DR that have curb side pick up and spoke to as many residents as possible. They had informational material available as well.
• There was an information booth at the DRCA Stampede Roundup event which was hosted by AB Fish and Wildlife and City of Calgary Waste and Recycling Residential Services.
• Garbage Day app alerts and information sharing.
• Communication and educational initiatives are ongoing and will continue into the fall when there is the greater risk of troubling wildlife/human encounters.
Did you know? 100% of the homes in Discovery Ridge that have curb side pick up have garages and 100% of those homes have street pick up (no allies).
Thank you is insufficient but must be said to all of the residents who have volunteered time and effort at any point along the way. Some are still doing so now. It was a huge task to take on and the community is grateful to you all!
While most of the information above has been shared in the past, we felt the timing was right for a recap. If you wish to contact us on the matter, please email [email protected].
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