Anyone who’s struggled to wrestle with the heavy bear-proof garbage bins at Muriel Lake knows they’re not exactly user friendly.

Now, the M.D. of Bonnyville is looking at a solution.

During its June 23 meeting, council agreed to consider a $50,000 project in next year’s budget to replace the current bear-proof garbage bins at the Muriel Lake South Bin Site with standard waste containers within a secure chain-link-fenced compound.

The goal is simple: keep the bears out while making it easier for residents to throw away their garbage.

A Better Solution for Residents

Brad Ollen, Manager of Waste Services, told council the current bear-proof lids have done their job, but they’ve also become a frequent source of complaints.

“By design, the bear-proof lids keep the bears out of the garbage, but can be difficult for humans to open,” Ollen explained.

The Muriel Lake South Bin Site became the area’s primary drop-off location after the Muriel Lake West Bin Site closed in 2022 when the privately owned property was sold. Since then, residents have relied on the south site for both household waste and recycling.

Councillors Say They’ve Heard the Complaints

Ward 1 Councillor Josh Crick said he recently visited the site himself after hearing concerns from local residents.

“I’ve had a couple of residents tell me those lids are really hard to open,” Crick said.

“I went out and tried one myself, and they weren’t kidding. If I struggled with it, I can only imagine what it’s like for some of our seniors.”

Instead of relying on heavy bear-resistant lids, the proposed design would surround the site with chain-link fencing similar to several other waste sites throughout the municipality. Residents would park outside the enclosure, carry their garbage inside and dispose of it in regular bins while the fencing keeps wildlife from getting access.

Deputy Reeve Ben Fadeyiw said the extra walk into the enclosure is a small trade-off compared to dealing with bears around the site.

“It’s a little extra work, but I think the relief of something jumping out of a bin is a lot easier than dealing with that,” he said.

Ward 2 Councillor Caroline Palmer also supported the concept, saying fenced compounds discourage people from driving right up to the bins and dumping large amounts of waste outside them.

“The one at North Shore Heights has the fencing around it and ultimately we still are getting a fair amount of dumping outside of the bins,” Palmer said.

“I would recommend we always fence these bin sites. It does create a hardship for cleanup and so on, but it deters people from actually driving right up to the bins and unloading their entire household.”

Project Heads to 2027 Budget Talks

Council also discussed alternative fencing layouts that would allow vehicles to pull closer to the bins, but Ollen explained those designs are intended more for litter control than preventing wildlife from accessing garbage.

The proposed project carries an estimated cost of $50,000, including $40,000 for site construction and $10,000 for fencing and materials.

Rather than approve the project immediately, council unanimously directed administration to bring it forward during the 2027 capital budget deliberations.

If approved, the Muriel Lake South Bin Site would join several other enclosed waste and recycling compounds already operating throughout the M.D., providing residents with a safer and more user-friendly place to dispose of household waste while continuing to keep bears out of the bins.