Dive Brief:

• If homeowners in Boulder, CO do not "secure their trash," they will now be ticketed and fined by the city. The new enforcement is part of an effort to keep bears from digging through trash cans in the area while searching for food. 
• Last year, Boulder started mandating bear-proof trash cans, which have locks on them to keep bears out. If the locks are not used properly, the bears can easily tip the trash can over, leaving streets covered with litter. 
• So far, code enforcement officers have handed out 155 violations in the city. A first-time violation can cost a homeowner $250. 

Dive Insight:

Bear-proof trash bins have been a growing trend in the industry as bears have recklessly ripped through garbage containers across the nation. In Florida, officials rolled out 94-gallon bear-proof bins to combat the same issue that Boulder is facing. "There’s no magic wand to make this whole thing go away," said Keyna Cory, lobbyist for NWRA's Florida chapter. "We’re going to have to figure out together, collectively, what’s the best solution for each community."

One Colorado man was awakened in the night, startled by three bears — a mom and two cubs — going through his trash. He shot at the bears to try to get them to run away, killing the two cubs. The man is now facing charges, including a felony illegal discharge of a firearm and two misdemeanor charges of hunting out of season.