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Workers deliver bear-resistant garbage cans to residents near Apopka

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Orange County Commissioner Bryan Nelson and county workers began delivering bear-resistant garbage cans Tuesday morning to Orange County residents who ordered them.

The trash cans cost $245 apiece, but residents can purchase them for $50 because the cost is subsidized by state grants.

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Nelson said the devices are specially designed to discourage bears from traveling to populated areas to rummage through trash.

The contraptions have magnetic lids that must be turned at a specific angle to open.

Nelson said that more than 900 of the garbage cans are available at the subsidized cost, but he estimates that 10,000 Orange County households could benefit from them.

Jennifer Hamilton, who lives near Apopka, said she hopes her new garbage can prevents an unwanted encounter.

"The bears are the ones that seem to suffer because they either get shot, they get hit by cars or we have bear hunts," Hamilton said.