With issues such as Adventure Centre cost overruns, oceanfront development, monster homes and the like, Squamish residents have mostly been voicing their ire over, of all things, garbage cans.
Ever since Carney's began talking about and promoting the new "totes", which by now everyone has received, that seems to be the most contentious topic of conversation in town. From world-renowned biologist Wayne McCrory to our own local hard-working Bear Aware coordinator, and many locals, nobody seems to like the new totes. Or maybe it is just the nay-sayers who are more vocal. Usually those who are content or happy with something rarely write letters to the editor. Pity.
I consider myself an environmentalist, or at least environmentally aware. I also have some experience with bears from my years reporting in Whistler and my fascination with the animals. So I hate seeing bears destroyed because of human negligence.But, I don't agree with the debate being waged over the new totes.
Yes, the regular totes aren't bear proof. However, neither were most people's regular garbage cans before the switchover. At least, not many were bear proof. But when Carney's introduced the new totes, suddenly people who never considered these things were complaining they weren't bear proof. What were people doing about their garbage before the switch?
A bear proof kit is available for the new totes at a cost of more than $100, and understandably people are balking at the idea of paying extra for a bear proof bin. But again, what were these people doing before?
A municipal bylaw in place forbids anyone from putting their garbage on the curb the night before pickup, and directs people, under penalty of a fine, to ensure their garbage is secure and away from where wildlife can get at it. To me, that piece of legislation pretty much takes care of the problems associated with any non-bear proof bins, cans or totes, past, present or future. That is, as long as people follow the letter of the law, and it is enforced.
Carney's is a garbage collection company, not an environmental agency. Their business is taking care of Squamish's waste safely. Carney's is responsible for our garbage after it is picked up at the curb. It seems a bit unfair to place the onus on the company to protect our garbage while it is still in our homes, carports or secured sheds (which, to conform with the existing bylaw, is where the garbage should ideally be anyway). The new totes were a significant investment by Carney's to improve the efficiency and costs of picking up the garbage, not a way to let people off from obeying the bylaw.
Each of us is legally responsible for our own attractants - waste, fruit from trees, bird feeders, etc.
If we do move away from curb-side garbage collection, as McCrory suggested, that will be the reality. So take care of your own garbage now and in the future, because it is the law. And quit dumping on the totes.
