BOULDER —Boulder is working with officials at Western Disposal — the largest trash-hauling company in the city — to develop a pilot program that would test bear-resistant trash bins in select areas of the city this year.
The council in October accepted the Black Bear and Mountain Lion Management Plan, which outlines how the city should manage the animals. But rather than requiring the use of bear-proof trash bins, council members approved an expanded education campaign designed to increase awareness about luring bears into town.
The campaign calls for taking a number of steps this year, such as developing a website to provide public access to data on reported bear activity. Other actions include additional public education and signs, close monitoring of bear activity and new protocols for how city departments share information about sightings of black bears and mountain lions.
The effort is budgeted to cost about $10,000 this year, but the city has decided to redirect some of the money to test a small number of bear-resistant trash bins. The bins cost about $200 each, or about $10 per month to lease one from trash companies. The city plans to meet with Western Disposal in the coming weeks to develop a pilot program for at least one Boulder neighborhood this year.
