Fernie community bear-resistant bins are under review, and the City of Fernie is asking residents to provide feedback by June 22.

The City currently provides four bear-resistant community bins for public use. The bins are available 24/7 and are intended to help residents who miss their regular curbside garbage collection day or who do not have a secure place to store garbage between collection days.

Why the Service Is Being Reviewed

The City says the community bins are increasingly being misused. Large household items, electronics, recycling, animal carcasses, commercial waste and building materials have been dumped at the bin locations.

This fills the bins quickly, limits access for residents, creates overflowing garbage, and increases the risk of wildlife becoming food-conditioned.

When garbage is left outside the bins, City staff must also spend time cleaning up the area instead of maintaining parks, trails and community facilities.

Cost of the Service

The City pays $19,500 per year for the community bin service, which includes scheduled pickups twice a week on Mondays and Fridays.

The service is funded through general taxation.

Fernie residents also pay for curbside garbage collection through utility billing, and the Fernie Transfer Station is funded through the Regional District of East Kootenay portion of annual property taxes.

Have Your Say by June 22

The City says the community bin service cannot continue in its current form and is asking Fernie residents for feedback.

Residents are encouraged to complete the survey on the City’s Let’s Talk Fernie project page by June 22.

The survey will help the City understand how the bins are being used, whether the service is meeting its intended purpose, and what changes may be needed.

Have your say by June 22 and help shape the future of Fernie’s community bear-resistant bin service. Read more and take the 45 second survey here.