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Shandaken CAC to survey waste haulers, explore bear‑proof containers and shared dumpsters
Summary
Members agreed to survey County Waste, Waste Management and LaMelle about bear‑proof cans and dumpster options, costs, and whether haulers charge extra for secure containers; the committee discussed shared neighbor dumpsters as a low‑cost strategy.
The committee discussed how bears regularly access trash ahead of pickup and agreed to survey the three major haulers that serve the town to learn costs, availability and policy on bear‑proof containers.
A member described bears arriving "right before the truck" and said bear‑proof containers and lockable dumpsters are possible mitigation strategies. Committee members identified County Waste, Waste Management and LaMelle as haulers to contact to learn pricing and whether pick‑up crews will open secure containers without an extra fee. One member who uses a privately purchased bear‑proof can said she did not pay an extra collection fee.
The committee also discussed shared dumpster arrangements — small locked dumpsters for clusters of nearby homeowners — and cautioned that unlocked or overflowing dumpsters could still attract bears. Members agreed to report findings at the next meeting and recommended compiling cost comparisons for potential neighborhood demonstrations or grant‑funded purchases.
