The Town of Gibsons is very motivated to reduce the amount of materials sent to the Landfill for a variety of reasons, but most importantly it is the responsible thing to do for our environment.  The biggest problem with garbage is that it never really goes away. You drop it at the curb and it disappears. But that doesn't mean that it is not a problem anymore. It has to go somewhere.  Garbage trucks take it to a local landfill where it is piled up with everyone else's trash. Truckload after truckload. Week after week. Year after year.  Once the garbage gets to the landfill it is dumped and eventually covered by a layer of dirt.  Some of it decomposes over time.  The best solution is to divert as much materials from the landfill as possible.

Reusing saves money, resources, energy and landfill space
Reusing creates local jobs and keeps resources in our local economy
Reused items are more affordable, unique and fun to shop for

Be Bear Aware!

Bears travel extensively in search of food, and it is normal for them to pass through neighbourhoods located near ravines, green belts and forested areas. Conflict occurs when bears gain access to unnatural food and then stay in urban areas.   Keep your garbage and recyclables in a secure (preferably indoor) area and only put curbside the morning of your garbage day.

GARBAGE ISSUES IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS

The Town of Gibsons requires that garbage left at the curb and on private properties be left in a secure manner.  All garbage from Residential Properties is picked up by the Town's Contract Disposal Service.  Such garbage, when it is not at the curbside, must be kept in an approved "Wildlife Resistant Container" ("WRC")  with a tight fitting lid, strong enough to deter wildlife from opening the container.  While not at the curbside, the WRC must be kept in a Wildlife Resistant Enclosure.  An outbuilding is acceptable or a purpose-built enclosure strong enough to discourage even a bear from gaining entry.  Garbage may be placed at the curbside "after 7:00 am of the day of regular pick-up".  The use of "garbage bags" is unacceptable and will invite some form of enforcement from our Bylaw Enforcement Officers.  The WRC must be removed from the curbside no later than midnight after the time of pickup.   

Keeping household waste secure discourages wildlife and domestic animals from foraging in the garbage and spreading about our neighbourhoods.  Such precautions assists the Wildlife Service in keeping dangerous wildlife from our Town.  Bears, for example, found foraging in garbage are usually destroyed.   

GARBAGE FROM COMMERCIAL AREAS

Garbage collected from commercial operations, restaurants, hotels, motels, apartment complexes and some Strata Corporations is picked up and removed by private contractors.  The containers or bins used to collect large quantities of garbage are required to be "Wildlife Resistant" as well.  This means that the "lids" may not be left "propped up" and garbage must be completely contained inside the bins.  Bins that fill before the usual pick up date must be emptied so that waste material is not allowed to accumulate outside the container.   In addition the "lids" must be fastened to defeat even a large member of the wildlife family, including a bear.  Bears have difficulty figuring out a carabiner, so a lock with a key is not really necessary.

Download the Garbage Collection Route (PDF Document)

Contact:

Town Hall

Phone: 604.886.2274
Fax: 604.886.9735

Location and Mailing Address

474 South Fletcher Road
Box 340
Gibsons, BC  V0N 1V0

Business Hours
8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday (excluding statutory holidays).