Yellowknife (Dec 08/06) - Garbage bins behind the Panda Centre II are causing heads to shake in the area, although the ravens are having a great time.

Judith Drinnan is the owner of the Book Cellar, and said that although her business no longer throws out its garbage at the Panda Mall, she's unhappy with the lack of options for businesses.

Garbage is piling up behind the Panda Mall; ravens have been seen picking at the garbage and spreading it around the parking lot much to the frustration of store owners and people in the area. - Jessica Klinkenberg/NNSL photo

"It gets blown around and buried in snow," Drinnan said of what happens to the overflowing garbage.

"The whole business of commercial garbage disposal disturbs me," she said.

Drinnan said that although her business deals mainly in cardboard as a waste, she is unable to recycle it.

"We're always trying to reuse as much as we can," Drinnan said.

Doug Gillard, manager of municipal enforcement with the City of Yellowknife, said they respond to garbage complaints.

"It would come in as either a complaint or one of my officers would notice it," Gillard explained.

Afterwards they would contact the owners of the business under the solid waste bylaw.

"We'd start out trying to get compliance," he explained.

In this case they would ask the Panda Mall to fix the problem of overflowing garbage.

"They either try to regulate the amount of garbage or arrange for (more pick-ups)," Gillard said, noting the majority of businesses have a contract with Kavanaugh Bros.

At time of press, neither Kavanaugh Bros. nor WAM Investment group, which leases out the Panda Centre II, were available for comment.