Early on the morning of the first pickup day after the new cans were delivered, I watched a bear figure out how to open my neighbor's can in under 10 seconds. All it had to do was turn the can upside down, which is how they're designed to open anyway.

by the trash company. You have to use thier cans and pay for the priviledge. You are supposed to have your trash out by 6am according to them. If your unfortunate enough to have a job and the wannabe's in the city car come by before the trash company hours later and a bear knocked over your can, guess what you get a ticket and pay a fine. Not because you tried to keep it clean but because you did as required, using the required equipment (which is inferior to the needs) but you, of course, pay the penalty.
I use to have the ol plastic cans with a bungee over the lid. Never had a problem then the trash company (I like that name) decided you had to pay them to use what they required and now ,,,,,,
And the expensive equipment upgrades, just a less than $1000 little hydraulic tilt thing that hooks under a lip of the custom can.
Think it has to do with the requirement to rent them and pay long after the initial cost is reached?

Has there ever been a more lame job of planning?? There are many serious issues surrounding garbage disposal in Juneau, and one of them is the impact on urban bears.

So after gosh-knows-how-much effort, Arrow Refuse orders us to use an "improved" container that's not...bear proof.

ha ha ha ha I'm trying real hard not to be mad; just shaking my head at their amazing - almost humorous - incompetence

...just have to wait till the morning after to clean out your floorboard. You're already home!

These new containers are a stupid choice for this community. First they are way too big, there are no bag liners that will fit, so unless you bag everything before you toss it in the containers become dirty and ATTRACT BEARS. Then if there is no liners the trucks do not empty them entirely, so the trash is left in the containers and ATTRACT BEARS. They are too big to fit in many homes, so unless you have a big garage or other place to put them they are in the middle of the house or they are outside where they ATTRACT BEARS. We have already had one ATTRACT BEARS and be torn apart with garbage strewn about. We did not have the problem before these containers. This company gave us all a huge problem to deal with and probably laid off workers in this town to do so. So they make more money, more unemployed people and containers that ATTRACT BEARS. Very stupid and greedy of the trash company. Also why is there no glass recycling with the recycling program?

Heard some banging and looked outside. Bear using his front paws & weight. After a few pushes down & seeing the can expand the lid popped right open...He made it look easy..

Hmm -- Nobody ever said these were bear proof so the whole context of this article/photo group is messed up.

From APE's website:

Q: Are the new roll carts bear proof?
A: No but the gravity locks do reduce the likelihood of bear issues and definitely limit the refuse interactions with other animals while still providing the opportunity for automated collection.

I for one really like the cans, we haven't had any problems and like we did with our regular cans in the past, we keep them in the garage until garbage day.

That was one of my questions that I asked when I was patiently waiting for our new can to show up was bungie cords and keeping it "secure" so a bear can't get into it.

They, and I won't revel HER name, told us that we cannot put a bungie cord on the cans because of the "new" garbage pick up method and the cans will be fine and "you" are OK.

So here lies the question... now that we know that bears are smarter than the people at Arrow who did the research into these new cans..... are they picking up the tab for the garbage that is strewn all over the road because of a bear intrusion when we the home owners get a ticket??? I am sure as heck not going to go out and pick up my garbage all over the street because of their flaw.....

I had a good system in my smaller can with a bungie cord stretched across. I live in West Juneau and we can already see a bear just up the street easily open one....and NOT far from OUR house.

Arrow? What are you going to do eh??? eh???

what does the mayors office have to do with this problem? Arrow Refuse is a privately owned company.

Hi countthis. The City of Juneau, I'm sure, signs a contract with this company for picking up your garbage. The City government must have to OK this, as well as sign it. Therefore, I think they have a responsibility to make sure this will be workable in Juneau. Besides, if the whole City is having trouble, the Mayor and City Counsel need to do something. Signed: Barbara Mitz (Whatever)

p.s. You have no idea how difficult it is to have this name. Noone can spell it, often they'll call me Mrs Shalom (only half my name), but I am lucky to have it. It came with a wonderful Israeli husband. I've decided that in my next life (if there is one) I want to be a Jones. lol

Ask any bear,they are LOVING the new cans!

2 items! 1st put a sign on the cans that say "Not for bears, stay away". 2d Teach the bears to read!