Tell the board of supervisors to reject the garbage ordinance proposal and instruct Solid Waste to start over.

For months, the Bear Smart team has been urging Tulare County Solid Waste to collaborate with the community on an affordable solution that has been proven effective in thousands of bear smart communities. Instead, Tulare County Solid Waste is attempting to rush through an ordinance that increases Mid Valley Disposal’s profits at our expense without solving the problem.

• The proposed ordinance does not mandate ANY certified bear-resistant carts. Instead, it mandates any garbage cart Mid Valley Disposal decides to label “bear resistant,” such as the uncertified, bear-friendly carts it is currently characterizing as bear resistant. 
• The proposed ordinance mandates a $12 monthly surcharge for all garbage carts. That’s almost 30% of our current residential rate for carts that may not be bear resistant. This surcharge is unfair and unreasonable. The carts will be paid off within 15 to 18 months. We contributed $2.8 million in TOT this last year, and other unincorporated communities are getting their certified bear-resistant carts at no charge. Any mandated service must be affordable for the lowest income brackets in our community.
• The proposed ordinance mandates the same metal bins that are causing our most serious problems. These aren’t bear resistant no matter how well they are chained and locked. They have been responsible for at least 47% of our reported garbage-related incidents this summer.
• The proposed ordinance ignores recycling carts, which are impacted as often as our landfill waste carts. Partial bear resistance is the same as no bear resistance.
• Mid Valley Disposal’s garbage carts hold 96 gallons, weigh 52.4 pounds, require two hands to open, and require the ability to pinch. Tulare County Solid Waste ignored the Bear Smart Team’s calls for optional solutions that will work for more members of our community.

Tulare County Solid Waste is proposing an ordinance that doesn’t even mandate partial bear resistance. The proposal would increase residential monthly bills almost 30% without solving the problem. Indeed, this proposed “solution” would make the situation worse. 

Bear Smart team urges you to tell the Board of Supervisors to reject the proposed ordinance in its entirety and instruct Tulare County Solid Waste to work with the community on a real solution. 

• Attend the Board of Supervisors meeting at 9am on Tuesday, October 28 at Board Chambers at 2800 West Burrel in Visalia.
• Email TCSolidWaste@tularecounty.ca.gov,  ClerkoftheBoard@tularecounty.ca.gov, AskBOS@tularecounty.ca.gov,  lmicari@tularecounty.ca.gov,  pvanderpoel@tularecounty.ca.gov,  ashuklian@tularecounty.ca.gov,  evalero@tularecounty.ca.gov,  dtownsend@tularecounty.ca.gov as soon as possible. All emails must be sent by 9am on Tuesday, October 28. Use subject line ‘Agenda Item 25, Oct 28 BoS Meeting’.

From the Bear Smart Three Rivers Team.