Dumpsters can be both an attractant and breeding site for pests. Proper selection, design and maintenance are a must to help minimize attraction and pest development

Follow these easy tips for proper installation and maintenance of dumpsters around your facility

• Under ideal conditions, dumpsters would be located more than 100 feet from the structure. This is not possible for large facilities and so the dumpster is often placed next to the dock doors. The closer the dumpster is to the building, the greater potential for pests. Make sure that pest proofing is at its highest level in this area. Pest proof neighboring doors and keep doors closed when not in use.

• Dumpsters should be situated on a thick concrete pad that has foundation toes on the outside to keep rodents from burrowing under the pad. If possible, the dumpster area should slope to a sanitary sewer drain to handle runoff from cleaning.

• There should be no thick shrubbery around dumpster enclosures. Such plants might help conceal the dumpster from view, but they also conceal rodent burrows, encourage birds and can be areas where dumpster related litter collects. Make sure weeds or grass around a dumpster are trimmed and managed.

• Dumpsters should be enclosed or have lids. Lids must be kept closed when not actively adding trash to it. Closed lids and dumpsters can decrease pest access and odors which may be emanating from the dumpster contents.

• Dumpsters should be cleaned each time they are emptied. This is especially important in summer months when flies and other insects are actively foraging. Waste haulers can provide the cleaning service for their customers. Have a staff present when the dumpster box is removed and emptied in order to clean the dumpster area the slab directly underneath.

• Dumpsters should not be damaged, leaking, or rusted through. Otherwise, they should be replaced. Trash service agreements should specify that dumpsters shall be replaced with new or reconditioned dumpsters on a regular basis.

• Contact your pest management professional if pest activity like birds, rodents or flies are observed around the dumpster