Bears are Active; Carts and Bins are not Working

Urgent Action by Residents and STR Owners/Managers Needed

Numerous metal bins are being toppled and accessed along the highway, up Mineral King Road, and in the North Fork area. The metal bins, which the Board of Supervisors approved, are not bear resistant. The new plastic carts recently distributed by Mid Valley Disposal are low quality and too easy for bears to access. They are not opening automatically when tipped into the truck, so lids are left open, allowing wind and ravens to distribute the trash. Furthermore, wildlife is continuing to access food in recycling and green waste carts.

In short, since the new Bear Management Area ordinance went into effect, the trash situation has become worse rather than better. The inevitable consequence will be increased property damage and human-bear conflict. There is an urgent need for residents and Short Term Rental (STR) owners and managers to take action.

1. Help monitor the situation. Mid Valley Disposal management continues to state that there have been absolutely no complaints and that there are no serious issues with their service, including the metal bins. We need people in every neighborhood monitoring garbage incidents and bear sightings so we can help track and report them. In addition to notifying Mid Valley Disposal,  contact bears@3rtogether.org to report incidents and sightings and join the team. County officials and staff will not listen to us unless we have irrefutable proof that there is a problem.
2. Do not leave the lids of the new plastic carts open. Mid Valley Disposal has staff traveling in advance of the truck to open the lids. Staff is aware that some trash is distributed before the truck arrives. NOTE: Mid Valley Disposal is working with the cart manufacturer, but the company does not yet know when the situation will be resolved.
3. Make sure no one puts food or food tainted items in the recycling and green waste carts. If you own or manage an STR, make sure all visitors securely store food waste in the correct container.
4. Increasingly, STR visitors are leaving the metal bins unlocked. If you own or manage an STR, please make sure your garbage containers are locked at all times or are stored in a secured bear-resistant enclosure at all times.
5. Mid Valley Disposal and county staff are aware that many people are not physically able to unlatch the new carts. There is currently no plan to resolve this problem. Please contact both Mid Valley Disposal AND the county to let them know this is an issue and demand a solution.

The following images depict some of the recent incidents. Click images to enlarge.