WEST MILFORD Well over a year after the Department of Environmental Protection gave the township a $200,000 grant for bear-proof garbage cans, it looks like residents might finally receive them. Last week, the council agreed to purchase the garbage cans from a vendor after hitting several bumps in the road. Council members blamed the delay on the amount of research required to find the right garbage cans and the rejection of a first round of bids. Elmwood Park based company, Compliance Solutions USA, submitted the low bid of $176,812.50 and was recommended for acceptance by Rich Kunze, township administrator. Coming in below the grant figure won’t, however, result in a surplus for the town, as the handles for the cans come unattached. The remaining money will be required to pay for the screwing in of the three handles which come with each can. The screw-top can, which has become familiar to many who live in bear country, does cause a concern of its own. Whether garbage collectors will patiently remove the lid and conscientiously screw it back on again after emptying to prevent it blowing away in bad weather is a valid question. Councilman Bill Gervens said at the council meeting last Wednesday, “That contractor is not going to screw that lid back on. It’s a waste of taxpayers’ money. It’s a joke.” The majority of the council did approve the bid, however, and a contract will be drawn up with the successful bidder. With the state announcing only last week its rejection of a bear hunt, the success or failure of the bear cans will garner close attention this year. The state’s environmental agency opted to start a test program in West Milford to re-educate both humans and bears and to diminish interaction between both. The grant will allow the town to distribute garbage cans (free of charge) to homes in six test neighborhoods, including Papsco/Riverside, West Upper Greenwood Lake, Southeast Pinecliff Lake, Old Milford Estates, Wonder Lake/Forest Hill Park and Farmcrest. Each family will receive two cans. Six other neighborhoods will serve as a control group. The Dept. of Environmental Protection will then compare bear reports from the test and the control areas to evaluate the effectiveness of the program.