Photo: Dick Beck / Polar Bears International

Polar bear and 2 coys huddled near a fence and oil drum in Churchill, Manitoba.

Waste Management

Properly managing waste can help reduce the smells and promise of food that attract polar bears into communities.

Why it Matters

Polar bears are attracted to the smell of garbage, but properly managing waste can help reduce the smells and promise of food that attract polar bears into communities.

A devastating 2024 fire at the waste facility in Churchill, Canada, led to a risky situation when the town was forced to rely instead on a landfill that attracted polar bears.

We’re supporting our partners in Churchill with innovative solutions, while looking for ways to scale waste management solutions wherever bears and people coexist — creating a safer, healthier situation for both polar bears and people.

The Impact

Bear-safe waste bins: We purchased 38 bear-proof trash containers to keep bears away from commercial and residential garbage.
Landfill improvements: We collaborated with the Town of Churchill to improve the ground-based power supply, lighting, and electric fencing to prevent polar bears from accessing the waste and to keep staff safe from bear encounters.
Research on food attractants: We were part of the team behind the first-ever analysis of the impact of human-produced waste and food on polar bears.

Project Partners

Town of Churchill, Manitoba