Q&A: Changes to the Waste Collection Bylaw, Febuary 2026

by Councillor Abbott

To ensure everyone has the correct information about changes made to the Garbage and Recycling Bylaw, I’ve updated the Q&A I published in August 2025. The amendments were adopted by Council this week and are now in effect.

Are the waste collection time slots new?

No, they were piloted in 2022 in response to a province-wide spike in bear activity and included in the bylaw in 2023 at the request of bylaw so that they could be enforced because of high numbers of resident complaints they weren’t being followed.

What changes have been made to the bylaw?

One change is that residents who use approved bear-resistant clip-lock style garbage/food waste carts purchased from the Village may put their waste out from 7.00am on collection day if they cannot comply with the pick-up time slots or drop off at the Works Yard. As a reminder, these like other garbage cans, must be stored in an enclosure that is inaccessible to wildlife at all times other than when set out for pick-up. These are not yet available.

The other change is that time slots are now in place year-round to avoid confusion. The goal is that approved time slots continue to be the norm, because limiting time at the curb has been very successful in restricting access to attractants by bears and other wildlife on garbage days.

Do these changes increase waste collection costs?

No.

Have fines changed?

Yes, the maximum fine was reduced to $500.

Is garden waste subject to time slots?

No. Garden waste has nothing to do with Bear Smart efforts to make sure attractants are not available to wildlife and has never been included.

Is recycling subject to time slots?

The bylaw says “clean recycling products are excluded from the area collection schedule provided they do not create an attractant.” Bear Smart education uses the wording “Please put your waste out as close to 7:30 am, 9:00 am or 10:00 am as possible. Clean recyclables should be placed curbside in the Friday morning time slots or as close as possible to those times or, if you have to head out, as you leave home.”

What other options were discussed when the time slots were implemented in 2022?

Doing away with curbside collection as Whistler, Belcarra and other municipalities have done:this was dismissed at the start because Council knew it would not be the preferred option for Lions Bay residents.

Bear-proof dumpsters in locations around the Village so that residents can drop off attractants instead of Works Yard drop-off: the cost of acquiring these was prohibitive, as was the cost of staff time to monitor them to make sure they were properly closed, not full, etc. Odours caused by rotting green waste and garbage could also attract bears to cul de sacs, the park and ride and other locations discussed which would create bear problems where none existed, a potential public safety issue.

We also reviewed what other municipalities do to see if there were effective options that would work in Lions Bay. None seemed viable for Lions Bay.

A 2025 audit by bylaw showed 90% of homes comply with waste collection time slots and the intent is that residents will continue to do so. This has dramatically reduced the number of bears accessing garbage on collection days. This is an amazing testimony to all those who care so much for our bears, thank you all.