A proposed plan to bring curbside recycling to Squamish may also involve bear proofing every garbage bin in town - for a cost. But those who've already paid between $70 and $90 to do so will not be charged again, vows Carney's Waste Systems president Owen Carney.Council is looking further into the possibility of curbside recycling following a June presentation by Carney with district staff directed to consider the plan during a council meeting on Tuesday (July 15).The recycling service would come at no extra cost to taxpayers, said Carney; however part of the plan includes bear proofing every waste bin in town, which would result in a fee for homeowners. Homes with bins in need of bear proofing would pay the municipality $19.26 each year for five years to cover the cost of modifying it.The local company Critter Guard Lock Systems would do the bear proofing. Company owner Russ Roy said he has already modified about 550 local bins. Those who have already had their bins bear proofed would not be charged twice."They'll be credited," Carney said. Those who got their bins done on their own not only saved themselves headaches but a few dollars too.With the rising cost of materials such as steel, the bear-proofing fee has climbed in recent years from $68 to more than $90. "The ones who got the best deal are the ones who first started getting the locks," Roy said.If curbside recycling is approved, Carney said he would take a low-fuss approach to bear proofing."We will be doing them right at the home. We won't be pulling them out and taking them away," he said.When Carney's staff moves through a block to collect garbage, Critter Guard staff would be on their heels installing bear proofing while the bins are already outside.Homeowners would be notified before the change took place on their block.Doing community-wide locks is an attractive opportunity for Roy that may lead the way for similar arrangements across B.C. He said other municipalities including Coquitlam, Prince George and Port Moody have also taken an interest in Critter Guard Lock. "It's helping a fantastically huge problem with the bears and hopefully we're saving somebody's life here," he said.The proposed curbside recycling service would put an end to recycling depots in town and bring some reductions to regular waste service. Recyclables and waste would be picked up on a biweekly basis, meaning households that fill up their bin on a weekly basis would need to cut their waste in half.
