Garbage Management
Proper handling, storage, and disposal of waste to eliminate food sources and breeding sites for pests.
Detailed Overview
Effective garbage management includes: using heavy-duty plastic bags (minimum 1.9 mil thick) tied tightly; using containers with tight-fitting lids placed 6 inches off floor and away from walls; having capacity to store 3 days of garbage between pickups; emptying garbage daily; keeping garbage areas and compactor rooms clean and grease-free; placing garbage at curb as close to pickup time as possible; proper labeling of garbage and recycling areas; and maintaining compactors annually. In buildings with compactors: ensure chute doors are properly sized and close correctly, use only bagged garbage, provide alternatives for oversized items, clean chutes weekly, and install door sweeps on compactor room doors. Just one improperly stored bag of food waste can feed hundreds of pests.
When to Use
Garbage management must be continuous, with daily attention to interior garbage removal and weekly/monthly attention to garbage area cleaning and compactor maintenance. Educate residents on proper garbage handling.
Required Skill Level
Can be performed by building staff or residents with basic training
Benefits
- Eliminates major food source for pests
- Reduces pest populations quickly
- Improves building cleanliness and odor
- Prevents garbage-related pest problems
- Supports overall sanitation goals
Limitations
- Requires resident cooperation
- Daily effort needed
- Compactor maintenance can be costly
- May need more/larger garbage containers
- Requires staff time for monitoring
Related Concepts
Other principles that may be useful
Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
A prevention-based pest management method that provides long-lasting pest control, improves building conditions, and is less harmful to residents and pets than traditional pest control.
Pest Triangle
The four essential requirements pests need to survive: food, water, shelter, and ways to get around. Eliminating any of these makes an environment inhospitable to pests.
Threshold Levels
The point at which pest populations or damage reaches a level that requires action. IPM uses threshold levels to determine when treatment is necessary rather than treating on a schedule.