Managing Garbage Not as Difficult as You Think, Town Administrator Says

The following is a letter submitted by Town Administrator Anthony Cancro:

Almost everyone has had to deal with smelly garbage, a common annoyance. Garbage containers are some of the most useful household devices although they can quickly become unpleasant. 

Hot and humid weather always seems to bring out the worst in the most unpleasant odors. Garbage containers may smell at this time of the year if steps are not taken to minimize the potential odor. Any organic item like poultry and other meat wrappers can go from a slight smell to a strong odor within a few hours when the temperatures begin to increase.

Sometimes the garbage may leak out of the bag and into the garbage can. The smell may be hard to get rid of since it has soaked into your garbage containers. When hot water and soap will not remove the odor, there are natural ways to clean the area and eliminate the terrible smell.

A clean and odor-free garbage container is very important for the health of your home as well as the people in it. Garbage containers do not need to spread an aroma from the smelly garbage containers that are often placed in them. While these smells may be strong at times, they are relatively easy to manage and eliminate when they occur.

Here are a few natural suggestions that should leave your garbage containers smelling clean and fresh:

Clean with Vinegar - Vinegar is a very effective cleaner and sanitizer, vinegar works well at eliminating smells as well. Cleaning with vinegar is extremely safe and generally cheaper than cleaning with commercial cleansers. If you have a smelly garbage can or a smelly area from spilled garbage, simply dilute the vinegar with a little bit of water in a spray bottle, then apply the mixture to the area and wipe clean. This may take a few applications if the smell continues to linger. If you have an unpleasant odor that has spread to an entire room instead of a concentrated area, then simply leave a bowl of undiluted white vinegar in the room overnight to absorb the smell.

Baking Soda - Baking soda is a great product to use to absorb odors. If you have a metal trash can, it is suggested that you place the baking soda in a plastic container without a lid and leave that in the bottom of your trash can overnight to absorb odors. If you have a plastic trash can, you can place the baking soda directly into the trash can and replace it each time you empty your garbage containers.

Coffee Grounds - Coffee has a very powerful scent that can instantly mask the odor of smelly garbage. Adding some fresh coffee grounds to your trash can overnight can help mask the tainted odors within your trash can.

Cleaning out your trash can every time you throw out the garbage will greatly reduce the odors you bring back into your house. If you do not clean your trash can regularly it begins to produce a very unappealing odor caused by the growth of bacteria. This may not be the most appealing job in the world, but it will make an exceptional difference in the cleanliness of your home.

When using plastic garbage liners inside your garbage containers, you should consider the earth friendly type. Here are some suggestions:

Earth Friendly Trash Liners are intended to be composted in a municipal or commercial facility, compostable trash liners make it easy to contribute to a cleaner environment.

What about animals that may be attracted to my garbage area?

An effective wild animal control program can employ methods that are relatively easy, inexpensive, and effective. The successful elimination of animal infestation in or around a dwelling usually depends on three separate procedures: sanitation, animal proofing, and the eventual elimination of animals. Sanitation conducted for the control of animals involves both the eradication of any food source for the animals as well as the elimination of all harborage areas. One of the most prominent food sources for animals is garbage. The routine storage of all garbage in animal-proof containers is a vital aspect of any animal control program.

A sufficient number of receptacles must be provided to hold all garbage that normally accumulates. The garbage containers should be rust resistant, water tight, have tight-fitting lids and kept clean. The interior of receptacles can be kept free of organic buildup by placing all garbage in plastic bags and tightly sealing them before placing them in the garbage containers.

This practice also effectively reduces fly breeding and odors. Other food sources in and around the home include fruits and nuts which have not been harvested or that have fallen from trees, garden vegetables and berries left to rot on plants, bird seed which falls from feeders and accumulates on the ground and dog droppings not properly disposed of in the trash. A frequent source of food for animals is pet food which is not completely consumed or left out overnight. Outdoor pets should be fed only what they can readily consume at each feeding. Food dishes should be placed away from vegetation in areas which can be kept clean.

Elimination of harborage where animals hide or nest is a critical step in any successful animal control program. Tall grass, mature brush, ivy and other dense ground plants, and untrimmed shrubbery provide excellent harborage for animals. Residents should sufficiently thin ground plants, trim shrubbery to allow at least 12 inches of open area beneath plants, and remove dead leaves from the trunks of palm trees. The following link by the Humane Society may also be helpful: http://www.wihumane.org/wildlife/documents/WL-WildAnimalsinGarbageCansDumpsters.pdf

In summary, managing your garbage is not as difficult as you think: 1. bag any organic item like poultry and other meat wrappers and tie tightly; 2. put in earth friendly trash liners, keep it closed tightly; 3. place garbage in a rust resistant, water tight garbage containers, with tight- fitting lids and keep clean; 4. keep garbage containers out of the sun in hot weather.