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Home Page > Environment and Planning > Waste and recycling > Boxes & bins - what we collect > Pests and smells around bins
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Pests and smells around bins

 

Many people have problems with maggots and flies in and around the refuse bins during the summer months. However there are also many people that never have any of these problems. So what are the secrets to avoid maggots and flies?

  1. Flies

     

  2. Good hygiene in the home is the best way of avoiding flies. stages of a fly's life cycle
    • Keep flies from getting to your waste in the first place.
    • Flies can lay eggs on anything they can get access to.
  3. Keep the bin lid closed at all times. Many kitchen bins allow flies to enter even when they appear to be closed.
  4. Do not leave food waste out uncovered before binning it.
  5. Avoid leaving pet food uncovered before putting it in the bin, and if it is left uncovered, double-bag it.
  6. Wrap your food waste (particularly meat) and animal waste. Double-bag it if need be.
  7. If you are producing enough rubbish to overspill your bin, look at ways to reduce the waste that you bring into your home. Recycle as much of your waste as possible to give you plenty of space in your wheelie bin. Use of a kitchen waste disposal unit or home composting will also reduce or eliminate the amount of food waste in your bin. An bin overflowing with food waste is ideal for flies to breed in.

  8. Remember- it’s your waste and you are in control of how much you bring into the home.

     

    If you have maggots in your bin:

     

  9. Most of them will be emptied out when the bin is emptied. Maggots and fly eggs can be killed by using boiling water - pour it around the lid, top lip and inside for best results.
  10. As a last resort, fly spray or insecticides will reduce flies and insects.

  11. Reduce bin smells:

     

  12. Wash your bin out occasionally.
  13. Squeeze air out of bags used to contain waste as the lack of air will slow decomposition and reduce smells.
  14. Keep bin out of direct sunlight to slow decomposition.
  15. Activated charcoal pads are available from some hardware shop. These are designed to absorb odours associated with bins. A pad can be stuck to the underside of a bin lid.

Good housekeeping will help eliminate persistent problems!

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