Coquitlam ponders changes to garbage regulations
Residents in Coquitlam could have a two-hour window in which to put out their household garbage.
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Updated: September 15, 2009 6:12 PM
Coquitlam residents may soon have to bring their garbage to the curb on collection day, and not the night before, if proposed bylaw changes are approved by council.
Port Coquitlam and Port Moody have already adopted similar changes, which bear experts said will reduce the number of conflicts between people and bears. Garbage is an attractant for the animals, which often wander into populated areas in search for food sources such as garbage.
The proposed bylaw amendment in Coquitlam would change times for putting out garbage to between 5:30 and 7:30 a.m. on the day of pickup.
While all members of the engineering, utilities and environment committee supported the bylaw amendment, some changes were suggested.
Coun. Brent Asmundson, the chairs, asked staff to look at altering the schedule to allow residents more time to take their trash to the curb.
“If their garbage doesn’t get picked up until 11 or 12 o’clock, wouldn’t it be better to have it inside until the garbage pickup?” Asmundson asked.
Coun. Fin Donnelly said he would like to see areas prone to bear problems have their garbage picked up before other parts of the city.
In a report presented to committee on Monday, staff said it would educate and encourage the residents to follow the new regulations and only those who are “consistently negligent” would be subject to fines.
gmckenna@tricitynews.com
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