Tips For Renting A Dumpster Without Inviting All Of The Neighborhood Pests
Posted on: 5 November 2015
If you're looking for a way to manage waste material on your commercial property, a roll-off dumpster is often the best choice. It's important, though, that you be proactive about keeping rodents and pests away. Here are some tips to help you reduce the risk of rodent infestations and keep your company's parking lot and work area safe.
Keep the Dumpster Empty
One of the most common reasons for rodent dumpster attraction is an overflowing dumpster. When food, debris and other material fall from the dumpster, it's easy for pests to stay well-fed, because they don't even have to work for it. You can reduce this risk by investing in a dumpster that is big enough to handle all of the waste that you'll have between pickups. Alternatively, consider adjusting your contract with the rental company for more frequent pickups to keep it empty.
Keep the Dumpster Clean
One major mistake that many dumpster users make is failing to keep the dumpster clean. Start by cleaning up around the dumpster at least once a day. This ensures that there's no debris around that's going to draw scavengers. At least once every month you'll want to rinse the unit out and get rid of any residue.
Remove the drain plugs to rinse the dumpster out. Use a high-pressure hose and a quality detergent. Rinse it completely to keep the germs out. Allow the water to drain completely from the dumpster once you've washed it out, then leave the container open to dry in the sun. Wash the ground around the dumpster after you clean it out so that you flush away any residue from the inside of the dumpster. Replace the plugs before you use the dumpster again.
Keep the Area Secured
When making the choice of where to install the dumpster, consider the pest accessibility before settling on any location. For example, choose a space where there's no shrubbery immediately nearby. Ground cover vines, thick shrubbery and thorn bushes make great hiding places for small rodents and other animals. Make sure the dumpster area is free of these, and keep the weeds and grass trimmed and clean.
The dumpster area should also be a good distance away from any walls or fences, because those things provide easy access for climbing rodents. Rats and mice can even climb concrete walls, so don't think those will keep the space safe. Finally, have a concrete pad installed directly under the dumpster's placement area. Burrowing animals will dig underneath if they can, so adding a concrete pad will prevent that from happening.
Keep the Dumpster Closed
Keeping the dumpster closed at all times reduces the risk of odors drawing pests in. Seal the top of the dumpster tightly and keep the side doors closed when you're not putting things in. Keeping it closed also protects it against heavy winds, which can blow trash around the property. This kind of mess will draw pests as well, so make sure the side sliding doors not only close tightly, but aren't vulnerable to heavy wind. Another great benefit to these types of side doors is the fact that you can secure the dumpster to keep others from dumping waste in it without authorization. Simply attach a padlock or cable lock to the dumpster to keep others out. Just make sure the cables aren't low to the ground, or they'll make a great rope ladder for rodents.
Dumpsters are a natural draw for rodents and other nuisances, because they often provide a ready source of food. Luckily, you can manage your company's waste and still keep pests at bay by following the tips presented here. Talk with your roll off dumpster rental service about other advice to keep pests out of your dumpster.
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