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The B.C. government and Encorp Pacific Canada are celebrating a bear-smart recycling bin program in provincial parks that supports recycling and promotes the goal of keeping parks green and clean, said Environment Minister Barry Penner.

“The most natural and effective way to prevent potentially dangerous conflicts with bears is to put away any food attractants, such as garbage and used pop bottles or other containers,” said Penner. “The new program is a good example of a partnership between the B.C. government and the private sector. It enhances BC Parks, promotes proper waste management and encourages people to be ‘bear smart’ when visiting our parks.”

The Ministry of Environment contributed $8,000 toward the program, and Encorp Pacific Canada contributed $106,000 toward the recycling bins in some of the busiest parks in the province. The specially-designed metal bins keep bears out while helping park users be diligent about recycling their beverage containers.

“As British Columbians, we’re proud of our provincial parks and conscientious when it comes to recycling,” said Encorp Pacific Canada CEO Neil Hastie. “Encorp’s bear-smart recycling partnership with the provincial government will not only help keep our parks clean and conserve resources, it will further minimize impact on wildlife.”

Fifty-nine bear-proof recycle bins have been placed at four BC Parks: two at Cultus Lake Provincial Park near Chilliwack; 20 at Goldstream Provincial Park near Victoria; 26 at Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park near Parksville and 11 at Alice Lake Provincial Park near Squamish.

Since 2001, the B.C. government has established 65 new parks, 144 conservancies, two ecological reserves and nine protected areas, and expanded more than 60 parks and six ecological reserves, protecting over 1.9 million hectares of additional land.

Over the past five years, B.C. has invested approximately $107 million to improve park infrastructure and acquire additional parkland. Today in B.C., 13.5 million hectares or 14.27 per cent of the land base is protected, more than any other Canadian jurisdiction.

BC Parks will celebrate its 100th birthday on March 1, 2011. Leading up to the milestone date, a new Parks 100 initiative will be engaging communities, First Nations, youth and the arts, heritage and tourism sectors in events, competitions and conservation projects across the province. Parks 100 activities aim to promote accessible parks, healthy and green living, and strengthen shared stewardship of B.C.’s natural and cultural resources. To find out more about Parks 100, go to: www.bcparks100.ca.

To learn about how you and your community can be bear-smart, go to: www.env.gov.bc.ca/wld/bearsmart/bearsmintro.html.

To find out more about Encorp Pacific Canada, a product stewardship corporation mandated to develop and improve beverage containers recycling systems, go to: www.encorp.ca.