Sustainable Services

Bears And Trash

Bear season is typically from April 15th through November 15th.  

• Securing Trash Containers
• Resident's Responsibilities
• Commercial Business's Responsibilities

Other Resources

• Bear Smart Durango
• Living with Wildlife 

Securing Trash Containers

• Keep trash containers in garages, sheds or trash enclosures
• Place trash container out the morning of collection to reduce wildlife encounters
• Do not overfill trash containers (consider recycling or obtaining a larger trash container)
• Do not leave trash containers in alleys
• Bag and secure all trash prior to placing in trash containers
• Request a wildlife resistance trash container ($4 monthly rental fee in addition to regular trash collection fee)

Resident's Responsibilities

• Residents are responsible to ensure their trash and container(s) are secure from bears and wildlife.  Owners will receive a code violation notice and may be required to obtain a wildlife resistance trash container if refuse container(s) is found to be turned over or trash from container(s) is scattered around their yard or in the public right-of-way.  

Please contact Code Enforcement at 375-4930 to report trash violations.

• Occasionally clean your trash container with water and ammonia, or bleach (DO NOT mix ammonia and bleach)
• Unlock lid of wildlife-resistent container the morning of collection

Commercial Business's Responsibilities

Businesses in Durango, whether using trash service through the City of Durango or a private company, are responsible to ensure their trash container is secured from bears and wildlife. 

Additional trash collection services may be necessary during bear season to reduce the amount of trash scattered from bears and wildlife. 

Business owners will receive a trash violation notice if their trash is found to be scattered around the grounds.  Business owners will be required to acquire additional trash services and pay all applicable fees.