Wildlife & Waste

People and bears are increasingly sharing space throughout Coquitlam so it’s important that we learn how to live with them harmoniously.

One of the main reasons bears will enter neighbourhoods is because of mismanaged garbage. The bears cannot change their behaviour but we can.

Please make sure that you:

• Keep garbage out of reach.
  Garbage is not healthy for bears. When bears learn that garbage means food, they come back to it again and again. Store garbage & recycling indoors, in a very sturdy shed or in a bear resistant garbage container.
• Place all food scraps in the Green Can – it gets collected first!
  Bears have an incredible sense of smell so we need to get food off the curb as soon as possible. Make sure your food scraps are in your Green Can and it is out with your garbage & recycling between 5:30 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. on your collection day. No bins ( not even yard trimmings or your blue box) can be placed out earlier than 5:30 a.m. the day of pick-up.
• Compost responsibly, pick ripe fruit and remove unwanted fruit trees.
  Bears are omnivores so they love eating vegetation, berries and other fruit. Make sure your backyard isn’t providing lunch for bears!
• Check your yard for bear attractants:
  • Store pet food indoors
  • Keep your barbecue clean.
  • Remove bird feeders or suspend them on a cable
• Remember that a fed bear is a dead bear. 
  Feeding bears, even unintentionally, is against the law in BC. (Dangerous Wildlife Protection Act-section 88.1).

Residents are responsible for managing their waste correctly so that it doesn't attract wildlife. Failure to do so can result in a $500.00 fine (as outlined in Amendment Bylaw No. 3768, 2006 & Amendment Bylaw No. 4061, 2009 to the Solid Waste Management Bylaw).

Bear Resistant Garbage Bins

Coquitlam residents have the option to purchase a bear-resistant bin from the City for $140 (plus taxes). Bear Resistant Bins are available for purchase at Coquitlam City Hall - Collections Counter and are then picked up at the Engineering and Public Works Counter:

3000 Guildford Way, Coquitlam
Monday to Friday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Cost: $140 plus taxes
(cash, cheque, debit, credit card)
604-927-3537

Using your Bear Resistant Bin is easy!

Place garbage in regular-sized plastic garbage bags (36” x 24”), compacting the garbage as much as possible so that they will fit in the bin. Each bag should not exceed 20 kg or 44 lbs. Filled bags should be put into the garbage bin, with up to two full bags in each container, and should be easy to remove by the collector.

If you ever have an extra bag to put out for collection, please do not put it out without being secured in a container. Attach the orange “Extra Bag” tag at the top of the bag beside the knot or tie and place the bag inside of your garbage container. ("Extra Bag" tags can be purchased at the Collections Department, Coquitlam City Hall, 3000 Guilford Way and/or at the Coquitlam Animal Shelter, 500 Mariner Way.)

Find out how to use a Bear Resistant Bin as a Green Can.

For more information contact urbanwildlife@coquitlam.ca or visit Bear Aware Program.