How to Keep Pests Out of Your Dumpster Rental

Even if you’re only keeping your dumpster for a few days, it can be a magnet for all kinds of pests — from maggots to raccoons to bears. Simply Dumpsters has a few ideas you can use to make sure critters don’t take up residence in your container rental.

Dumpster Placement

It’s important to choose the right place for your bin. You want it convenient to where you’ll be working but also on a solid surface, such as a blacktop driveway. Placing your dumpster on the grass might be a shorter walk with your trash, but you run a higher risk of insects or rodents nesting in or under it.

Keep the dumpster away from full foliage. Squirrels, raccoons, rats, and other creatures hide in trees in shrubs, just waiting for an opportunity to make trouble. If you must place the bin near foliage, trim the branches away from the sides of the dumpster.

Food Waste

Do not dispose of food waste in your dumpster rental. This is the main reason critters get into the bins — they are tempted by food odors. And flies will lay eggs in discarded food, leading to an infestation of maggots. If you absolutely must discard food, double bag it to hide the odor. This is bad for the environment but will keep raccoons and others out of your container.

The better solution is to compost or throw out food waste in plastic bags with your regular garbage.

Cover It

While roll-off dumpsters don’t come with covers, if necessary, you can cover your bin with a tarp or plastic during the nighttime hours when “visitors” are more active. If you keep food waste out of your bin, there may not be a need to cover it.

Repellents

Pest repellents can be purchased at hardware stores, garden nurseries, or retail chain stores. Read labels carefully before use. For a safer “green” option, use a spray bottle with a solution of one gallon of water to one cup of ammonia. Spray the area surrounding the dumpster and on top of garbage bags. Take care to avoid spraying on nearby plants that could be damaged by ammonia.

You can also try fox urine (also available in stores) to put around the perimeter of the dumpster. This will keep small animals like squirrels and skunks away from the area.

Simply Dumpsters is here to help you keep your job site clear of junk… and pests! To rent a dumpster, call us at 888-404-2202 today!