Durango and La Plata County residents are reminded to report instances of bears accessing trash.
The city and county have ordinances meant to reduce the amount of trash available to bears, and both require residents to report violations to be effective. City residents should call City Code Enforcement at 375-4930. County residents should call Central Dispatch at 385-2900.
Residents and businesses should contact the city or the waste hauler if bear-resistant trash containers or dumpsters are damaged. The city of Durango can be contact at 375-5004. Otherwise, contact the waste hauler.
All waste haulers in the city and county now offer IGBC-certified residential bear-resistant trash containers, and residents are encouraged to obtain them.
Bear-resistant trash containers and dumpsters are only effective when used properly. Containers should not be overfilled and lids should be fully closed and latched at all times, unless the container needs to be unlatched on the morning of collection only.
For more tips about keeping bears out of trash, visit www.bearsmartdurango.org.
