In the mountains the trash czar is very particular.  Please pay attention to these rules.  Otherwise we (me) end up resorting and picking up a lot of garbage.  On the other hand, the bears are not very particular.     (caption above: I really shouldn't but I think I will try the garbage.) If you see a bear and do not have an obvious exit strategy, make a lot of noise, but do not act aggressive.  Never look a bear in the eyes, you will blink before she does.

Common mistakes are highlighted in red

• All garbage goes in the upper parking lot. Do not leave garbage around other areas, there are just too many creators around
•  Grocery bags are not recyclable you can however take them back to grocery store.
• All true garbage (not recyclable) goes in the protected area in the upper parking lot. To place trash in the protected area, open the door, turn the power off using the switch.  After leaving your trash, turn the power back on and close the door.  If you do not close the door or turn the electric fence back on, guess what happens.
• All true garbage goes in clear plastic bags, not the ones that you get in stores. We have these bags available, and they are in the trash cans when you arrive.  For long stays it is best to buy a pack.
• Recyclables are placed outside the protected area.  Use clear plastic bags, paper bags or garbage cans provided but not grocery bags, or cardboard boxes. Grocery bags are not recyclable you can however take them back to grocery store.
• Recyclables are defined as:   
  • Paper Group
    • Newspapers, magazines go into brown bags, tied in bundles or in the garbage can marked newspapers.  
    • Corrugated cardboard:  flatten into bundles, no larger than 3’ x 3’.  They will not pick up a corrugated cardboard box unless it is flattened.
    • Lightweight cardboard:  beer and soft drink packages, cereal boxes, paper tubes, etc.:  Remove plastic and paper liners and place into brown bags, plastic bags or in the garbage can provided.  No pizza boxes.
  • Container Group
    • Glass:  do not break, wash, remove lids.
    • Plastic containers and
    • Styrofoam  food containers.
    • Beverage cartons:  milk, juice cartons and juice boxes. These by the way are not paper, go figure!
    • Metal and aluminum:  food, beverage cans, foil, foil plates, aerosol cans (empty)
• Each group must be separated.  You cannot put a beer can and the Sunday newspaper in the same bag. 

Photo Courtesy of Mark Dengler.