Proposed legislation aims to minimize human-bear interactions in Anchorage

Alaska's transition into the summer season is a favorite time of year for bears looking to snag a morsel or two from curbside trashcans. This human-bear interaction is exactly what the Anchorage Assembly wants to minimize with a new ordinance regulating trash handling in the city.

"This chapter is intended to provide simple, clear, and effective regulations including where bear-resistant containers are needed," the Office of the Mayor wrote in a memorandum to the assembly.

The

would establish strict protocols for waste removal -- designating "secure trash regulation zones" for areas with high bear activity; setting "trash handling standards" for citywide waste removal; and laying out rules for violations and penalties.

Every trash container in secure trash regulation zones would have to be bear-resistant. Trash hauling companies would have to pay the initial fee to purchase these containers. Assembly members say residents in these areas who utilize trash collection services would see rate increases to pay off the containers over time.

First-time residential offenders without bear-resistant containers would face a $100 fine, which the city would waive if they upgraded. The second offense would impose a $250 fine, $500 for the third. Commercial fines for trash collectors would be $1,000, $2,000, and $3,000 respectively.

These rules would only apply in select areas in the municipality. According to assembly member John Weddleton, they would take a "fairly surgical approach" in identifying high bear activity zones.

Girdwood is one example of an area that sees a lot of bears in the summer months. Weddleton says area residents have been asking for these regulations to help manage the waste generated from the steady influx of summer tourists.

Alayna Dupont lives in Girdwood and supports the proposed ordinance. In 2017, she founded an organization called

with the intent of minimizing human-bear interactions.

"All Alaskan towns are really situated in the heart of prime bear habitat -- so we all face these issues," Dupont said.

Dupont took Channel 2 on a short tour of the Girdwood area Tuesday -- pointing out that most residents either have bear-resistant containers, or use the local transfer station.

Certain commercial recycling and trash containers, however, are not bear-resistant. Dupont says they fill to the brim and attract bears.

"When we have big events in town like Forrest Fair, or over Memorial Day weekend when we have a big influx of visitors, we have more people using dumpsters as they come on through," she said. "And bears can just get right in there."

If the ordinance were to pass in time for the 2019 tourism season, Weddleton says they would test the secure trash regulations in Girdwood. If the regulations are successful in reducing human-bear interactions, the assembly would look to establish secure zones in Anchorage-proper, likely in 2020.

The ordinance was only introduced at Tuesday's regular assembly meeting, and will be open for public testimony on June 18.

Denali Disposal's Bernadette Wilson told Channel 2 that there are multiple things that still need to be considered to make this ordinance work. She did confirm that waste disposal companies would have to increase rates to supply the bear-resistant containers.