How to Prevent Bugs from Hanging Around while Waiting for your Waste Management Company
As the hot summer weather sets in, issues related to pests and bugs circling commercial waste is a growing concern for many small business owners. Improper waste management processes only serves to attract infestations that can cause havoc for property managers.
When hiring a waste management company, they are not necessarily going to be coming every day to pick up the trash. That means it becomes the responsibility of the business to ensure their waste is being properly stored and managed in the interim prior to pick-up.
The first step in bug prevention in waste management is to evaluate the current processes. For inexperienced business owners, this will mean switching things up a little. Remember that pests need certain elements to survive – food, water, warmth, and shelter are a few. By denying them these, infestations can be almost eliminated altogether. Flies, mosquitoes, wasps and bees, and cockroaches are nothing to laugh at. Be sure to evaluate where, when, and how waste is being kept. In many cases, there may be a more effective way to manage one’s commercial waste.
Cockroaches, as an example, thrive on dirty, moist conditions. They feed mainly on decaying plant material, and are known to carry germs such as staphylococcus and streptococcus. The rooms where waste is being kept and/or the rooms near to where the waste is being kept should be properly sealed. Check for cracks, crevices, and voids in the walls and ceilings. If cockroaches are able to get through and into a commercial property’s other rooms, it will not bode well for sales!
Then, there are flies which are one of the more common pest nuisances. Even though they are more common, it does not mean they are any less dirty. In fact, flies are some of the dirtiest pests that waste can attract, carrying and transmitting more than 100 pathogens. Though a few flies might seem ok, a few may fast attract a larger population. If there is a dumpster or outdoor trashcan in place to hold waste, these can be very difficult to manage in terms of keeping flies away. Lastly, there are also wasps and bees to keep in mind. These guys feed on meat, fish, and sugar. If a waste bin is not properly covered and/or which is not being emptied regularly, expect wasps and bees to gather throughout the summer months.
There are a number of waste management prevention techniques that can be used to help prevent bugs and pests from accumulating around your commercial property. For example, waste bins should always be kept closed, and cleaned out regularly with hot water and detergent to prevent residue from gathering.
Consider odor-neutralizing products to eliminate pest-attracting odors. If pest attraction is particularly bad, you also may want to use insect light traps. In the event that your commercial enterprise is using a dumpster, ensure it is sanitized regularly. Also, waste disposal areas should be inspected every day to ensure that trash is not spilling out, that all food waste is being properly discarded, and that pest management processes are being upheld.
How to prevent bugs from hanging around while waiting for your waste management company to pick up is ultimately about being vigilant. And, when problems arise, there’s always a way to make improvements and ensure waste is being properly stored.
