Insects and Odours
Insects and Odours in your Green Bin? Here are some quick solutions!
Composting has many benefits but it can be difficult to tackle smelly odours and insects. Here are some easy tips and tricks on how to keep your Green Bin clean this summer!
Make sure your Green Bin lid is always shut tightly and that it’s not open for long periods of time when you’re filling it. This prevents insects from getting into your compost.
Put out your Green Bin weekly, even if it isn’t full. This prevents food waste from sitting for long periods of time and generating odours. It also clears out any bugs that may have found their way into your compost.
Clean out your Green Bin regularly with soap or a water-vinegar mixture to keep your bin fresh and prevent odours. The most effective way to keep your bin clean is to quickly rinse it out after collection every week or two.
Keep your Green Bin in a cool/shady and dry place. Places like a garage, shed, or under an overhang or porch, are great to store your bin. If you have to store your bin indoors, keep it in a cool place like a basement, under the stairs, or in a closet or cabinet. Under the sink is a great place to store your kitchen catcher if you have the space.
Spray vinegar or lemon juice in your Green Bin to prevent maggots as well as bad odours. Insects can’t survive in acidic environments so it’s an easy way to ward them off.
Drain as much liquid as possible from your organic waste before you put it in your Green Bin. You should also freeze grease and cooking oil before putting them in your bin.
Freeze any particularly smelly and messy food waste in your freezer until collection day. You can do this by wrapping it in newspaper, a paper bin liner, or any other 100% paper product and then placing it in your freezer. This can eliminate smelly liquids and waste from sitting in your bin. It also limits bugs and keeps your bin clean. You can even store your Kitchen Catcher in your freezer and put your kitchen scraps straight in there!
Use 100% paper bin liners or bags for your Green Bin and Kitchen Catcher. These prevent leakage as well as contain smells. They also keep the sides of your bin clean. Some great options are:
- A few pages of newspaper, either wrapped around your food waste or lining your bin.
- Bag to Earth bin liners. These are made of fully compostable materials that can break down in Creston’s Composting Facility. These are available locally at Pealow’s Your Independent Grocer, Save-On-Foods and Home Hardware.
- Any 100% paper bag, for example, a takeout food bag or Kraft paper bag. You can layer two of these together for even more coverage.
- Parchment paper, either wrapped around your food waste or lining your bin.
Please note that ALL plastics, including compostable and biodegradable plastics, are NOT permitted in your Green Bin. Paper with a plastic/shiny coating is also not permitted. These plastics cannot break down properly at the Composting Facility and can contaminate the compost.
Put extra newspaper, paper towel or ripped up cardboard in your Green Bin to soak up excess moisture. You can place some at the bottom of your bin, or layer it between food waste. Keeping your compost dry will prevent odours as well as insects.
Sprinkle baking soda in your bin to prevent odours and soak up moisture.
Wrap any meat scraps in newspaper before putting them in your Green Bin. Freezing meat scraps is more effective at preventing insects, but if you cannot, wrapping your meat scraps and other smelly food waste can help prevent leakage, odour, and insects.
Put a few drops of essential oil in your bin to ward off odours. Tea tree, lemongrass, peppermint, and eucalyptus are all great options. You could also try mixing a few drops with water and then spraying it in your bin.
Sprinkle rock salt, garden lime, or powdered ginger in your Green Bin to ward off insects.
All these tips can also be applied to your indoor kitchen catcher. Thank you for your great work keeping Creston green!
