Trash is by far the number one human food attractant and leading cause of human-bear conflict. The most effective means of reducing the availability of trash to bears and avoiding conflict is the use of bear-resistant trash containers.

Bear-resistant trash containers come in a variety of styles that suit various usages, including residential, commercial, parks and campground applications, but all feature sturdy construction and wildlife-resistant latching systems. Bears are powerful animals that can cause considerable property damage, so the use of bear-resistant trash containers is highly recommended.

Manufacturers bring products to be tested at the Wolf and Grizzly Discovery Center near Yellowstone National Park. Products that survive testing by captive grizzly bears are certified by the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee (IGBC) as being bear-resistant.

Bear Guardian Trash Receptacle Test:

All local waste haulers offer fully-automated IGBC-certified residential bear-resistant trash containers. All but Phoenix Recycling offer bear-resistant commercial dumpsters. The City of Durango handles all residential trash within city limits.

Get A Bear-Resistant Trash Container:

City residents and businesses with damaged bear-resistant trash containers should contact the City at 970-375-5004 to schedule repairs or replacement. County residents should contact their waste hauler.

BEAR-RESISTANT TRASH ENCLOSURES
If you can't keep your trash in a bear-resistant container or dumpster, bear-resistant trash enclosures allow for secure storage of trash containers that aren't bear-resistant. These are either specially-built metal, concrete or wood structures or all-metal trash enclosures that contain trash cans.

The most successful enclosures utilize materials that bears can't bite or claw their way through and durable construction lasting many years. Adding structural bear-resistant enclosures after the fact can be difficult, often due to parking space requirements, so including bear-resistant trash enclosures in the planning stages of developments is advised.

ALL-METAL TRASH ENCLOSURES
All-metal trash enclosures feature sturdy all-metal construction and doors that can be closed and locked. They are well-suited for a variety of uses including for residential, community common areas, parks and trails and more.

TEMPORARY TRASH STORAGE
Any sturdy, durable, closed and locked metal or heavy-duty container can be used to store trash until it can be properly disposed of. This is especially valuable to residents that lack trash service. Use your imagination, but some common options for temporary trash storage containers include metal tool boxes, horse or cargo trailers, zircon containers and 55-gallon steel drums with locking lids.