DUMPSTER ETIQUETTE
Bear Valley homeowners abandoned roadside pickup of
garbage several years ago and now use a community dumpster on Creekside Drive just north
of the school. This was done in the name of beautification; garbage cans tended to get
tipped over by dogs, bears, and coyotes. Snowcats ran over snow-covered cans in the
winter. Trash got strewn around. A few homeowners still pay someone to come to their house
and pick up their garbage, but most of us take our bags to the dumpster.
The dumpster site is officially a Transfer Station. It's easy to forget
that the trash doesn't dematerialize after we drop it off; it still exists, and the
community dumpster is just a bus stop on its journey.
The dumpster works really well during slow times when it's used mostly
by the fulltime locals who are familiar with the setup. But things tend to go haywire
during busy times when people use it who are less familiar with it. You can help by being
a responsible dumpster user.
1. NEVER leave anything outside the containers, including recyclables. If the recycle
container is full, take your stuff home or put in the garbage dumpster. If the
dumpster is full, take it home or to the Transfer Station in Avery. When you leave
anything, even a piece of cardboard, outside on the ground, it attracts animals. Worse, it
attracts more trash. Once one item is left outside the container, the pile grows quickly.
It's ugly and the county worker, Dave Staton, must clean it up. You may be endangering the
bears too (see Bears).
2. The dumpster is for normal household trash. It is illegal to put construction debris in
it. It fills the dumpster too quickly, and we can be fined for it when it gets to the
landfill. Every year someone puts a giant roll of carpet in and fills it up prematurely.
If you have something like this, you must call SEI/Bear Valley Disposal and arrange for a
separate pickup (209-795-1532).
3. The dumpster is not suitable for hazardous waste. Batteries, oil, paint, solvents must
be disposed of on designated BOP days in special containers. The County sends out notices
of these days from time to time with information on the appropriate time and place for
disposal. Hold on to these items until you can dispose of them properly. Again, we can be
fined for these materials if they show up in the landfill in the regular dumpster.
4. Please don't take the stepladder. The County provides the ladder so people can reach
the dumpster doors. We're going through 3 a year, as people walk off with them. It's
stealing, and it inconveniences people who need it.
5. Be sure to secure the doors after doing your business. Leaving dumpster doors unlatched
is as bad for the bears as leaving trash outside. It's ecological vandalism. It may result
in garbage being strewn around, and it may also result in the death of a bear.
6. The trash dumpster is for Bear Valley homeowners. There are a few Alpine County owners
in Sherman Acres who pay to use it. Others are allowed to pay by the bag or by the year
for the privilege of using it. Condo and commercial people have their own, although the
recycle containers are available to all.
7. There is a fine for leaving anything outside the containers, leaving the doors
unlatched, leaving inappropriate stuff in the containers, or unauthorized use. In some
cases there is also a bounty paid for turning in violators. If you see a violation in
progress, take down a license number and report to the Sheriff. A few brave souls will
actually say something to the offender, but this is not recommended.
8. Don't forget to inform your guests about the use of the dumpster. The biggest problems
seem to occur when we have the most newcomers who don't know any better.
One of the marks of civilization is the intelligent handling of garbage. BVRI thinks we have an exceptionally beautiful village and exceptionally intelligent property owners. Please be a responsible and informed manager of your household waste and help keep Bear Valley beautiful. Thanks!
Eric Jung June 2000