Let the Bear Smart Team Know What Affordability Means to YOu

Thanks to all of you, Tulare County staff agreed to meet with the Bear Smart Three Rivers Team! During the meeting, county staff expressed strong support for certified bear-resistant trash containers for everyone in Three Rivers.

These containers must be affordable, however.

Please contact us at feedback@bearsmart3r.org and let us know what affordable means to you.

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Certified Bear-Resistant Carts: Making Them Affordable

To address the community’s garbage issues, the Tulare County Solid Waste Department may mandate the use of certified bear-resistant carts in 64- and 96-gallon sizes or the metal bins being used successfully in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.

These waste containers cost more than standard containers, but most Bear Smart communities acquire them affordably.

What do we mean by affordable?

In the opinion of many, if any service is to be mandated, it must be affordable:

• The price should be low enough that people who do not believe they need bear-resistant containers do not perceive the rate increase to be onerous. Other communities have found a monthly rate increase of $4 or less per cart works well. 
• Low-income assistance reduces the rate surcharge or one-time expenditure to $0 for people below a certain income level.

How do we make the carts affordable?

Other incorporated communities have acquired affordable certified bear-resistant carts by a) getting a grant from or via the county and b) charging customers a low surcharge or one-time fee for any portion of the cost not covered by the grant

• Grant from the county: Approximately 75% of the bear-related trash incidents in 2025 have been associated with short-term rentals (STRs). Three Rivers STRs paid $2.8 million in Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) this last fiscal year. In Tulare County, the TOT goes into the General Fund rather than a special fund for community improvements. Fortunately, Tulare County finished this last fiscal year in a strong position, and the general fund has increased $80 million for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. The county should be able to fund the initial costs of acquisition and distribution.
• Customer payments: If the county is unable to fully cover the cost of acquiring and distributing the carts, the remainder will be paid by the residents and businesses of Three Rivers.

If bought in bulk, the carts cost between $200 and $300 each, depending on size. Our current monthly charge already covers acquisition, distribution, and maintenance of the standard carts.

See our two-page Bear Resistant Cart Affordability handout for more details. 

Let us know what you think! Please contact us at feedback@bearsmart3r.org and let us know what affordable means to you.

FULL BEAR RESISTANCE + AFFORDABILITY + COMMUNITY COLLABORATION = SUCCESS

From the Bear Smart Three Rivers Team.