Garbage Loving Bears Cause Problems

People who put their trash out before the day of pickup could face $300 fine

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By Lauren Maxwell
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Story Created: Jul 30, 2012 at 6:40 PM AKDT

Story Updated: Jul 30, 2012 at 6:43 PM AKDT

ANCHORAGE - Garbage loving bears are a big problem this summer. Already, several have given up their lives for developing a taste for trash. By law, trash needs to stay indoors till pick up day or homeowners risk a $300 fine. But if you have garbage that smells particularly bad long before your pick-up day there are some things that you can do.

The Municipal Transfer Station in Midtown takes garbage six days a week for a minimal cost. You can drop off a single bag for two dollars or two bags for three.

“Just swing by and drop it off and usually there is very little traffic,” said Solid Waste’s Mark Madden. “Sometimes it’s more crowded on Saturdays, but during the week it isn’t crowded and for two dollars you have taken care of the problem.”

Another thing you can do is give your garbage cans a good cleaning on a regular basis. Hosing them down with a little detergent or bleach can go a long way towards keeping things smelling sweet.

Of course there are some things that don’t smell good no matter what – especially anything fishy.
Salmon skin or fishy leftovers from a meal aren’t pleasant, but if the size is small consider stashing them in your freezer.

“Instead of throwing it in the garbage can and letting it smell for four or five days put it in a small bag,” said Madden. Put it in a corner of the freezer and then come trash day, you just throw it in the trash and it won’t smell in your house it won’t smell in your garbage can and it won’t attract bears.

Madden said it can take creative thinking to make garbage less tempting, but in the end it will be well worth it for both people and for bears.
 

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