One of the new bear proof roll carts. Courtesy/LAC
By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com
Tuesday, Aug. 27, Los Alamos County Council will be given a choice, and the decision will affect the bear-proof roll cart program.
Public Works Director Juan Rael said Council will weigh three options regarding the program:
- Continue to distribute the roll carts upon request;
- Provide a bear-proof cart to every residence in Los Alamos; or
- Hand out roll carts to every residence in the County.
Rael said it will be the staff’s recommendation that council approve continuing to distribute roll carts upon request. He explained not every household wants a bear-proof cart and the third option – providing every residence a new cart would exceed the budget.
He added that a decision needs to be made since fall is approaching, which is when bear activity increases.
The history of the bear cart program goes back to the Fiscal Year 2022 budget hearings when Council authorized a one-time transfer of $2.4 million from the general fund to Environmental Services Division to purchase roll carts and commercial dumpsters. Rael said originally, $1.75 million would be used to purchase residential roll carts and $650,000 for commercial dumpsters.
There have been some “growing pains” with the bear-proof trash program. Rael said the public was having issues accessing and opening the dumpsters and County workers were having trouble with the locking mechanisms on the roll carts. The roll cart problem is when the truck’s equipment lifts and tilts the cart to deposit the trash, the lid remains locked, he said, meaning the driver needs to shake the roll cart, causing stress to trucks hydraulic system or the driver has to manually unlock the lid, which adds to the service time and daily route schedule.
In addressing the dumpster issue, Rael said staff worked with the dumpster manufacturers and steps were provided for ease of access. This eliminated most of the concerns for the dumpsters, he said.
As for the rolls carts, Rael said another vendor was sought to find one with a better locking mechanism. Two responded to the request of proposals but only one has grizzly bear certification.
There is something that the public can do to help.
“Please, please bag your trash,” Rael said. “What is blocking up the locking mechanism is loose debris. Bagging your trash is the best thing you can do to prevent issues with the locking mechanism on the exiting carts.”
The County has put distribution of bear-proof carts on pause until a new vendor is selected.
“We do have a pretty big waiting list,” Rael said. “We haven’t been able to fill those orders because we don’t want to purchase or give out carts that don’t work.”
About 400 people are on the wait list. Once Council approves an option, Rael said the first order should be shipped to Los Alamos within 30 days.
Even when the new carts arrive, Rael reminds residents that distribution will take some coordination across County departments. He explained that every Environmental Service Division employee, regardless of job title, is needed to operate a trash truck, so outside help will be required to get everyone their cart.
“Our goal is to distribute them as soon we get them, but it will take a little bit of time,” Rael said. “The public needs to bear with us because this will require some logistics. We want to get them in and get them out right away because fall is coming.”
Roughly 1,000 people have received a bear-proof cart since the program kicked off, which is about 14 percent of the County’s residences. Rael said for those who already have a bear-proof cart there isn’t a need to get rid of the old one. The original carts are usable, they just add time to the drivers’ routes.
He added that the carts make a difference. Looking at the data from Los Alamos Police Department dispatch, the calls related to bears have decreased since the carts have been deployed, Rael said.
To sign up for a bear-proof cart, visit the Environmental Services webpage, email solidwaste@lacnm.us or call 505.662.8163.
