maggots in wheelie bin

[Kayleigh]

Can anyone tell me how to keep maggots out of the wheelie bin..

and how to get rid of them when they are already in there. I have a phobia and went to put some rubbish in the bin, and got the fright of my life as there were maggot all inside when I lifted the lid.

[djackso]

Oh yes, I really sympathize! They often hatch form eggs in the rubbish before the bin men come - this process is really quick. They seem to like meat best.

I'm going to try wrapping waste meat in newspaper before putting it in the waste. It is my theory (until disproved) that the paper will absorb moisture from the meat and that they do not lay on dry food.

Interesting question. Hope others have some ideas.

[ron1863]

If you keep the lid shut they can't get in Seriously though,don't put any form of meat in the bin or wrap it in cling film first and make sure the lid is shut tight.
You could always take up fishing as a last resort

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by ron1863

If you keep the lid shut they can't get in Seriously though,don't put any form of meat in the bin or wrap it in cling film first and make sure the lid is shut tight.
You could always take up fishing as a last resort

I hate them. I do wrap food up but it still smells they lay eggs on the outside of the bags inside the bin..I refuse to use the bin in summer.
I do have a real phobia to worms and maggots..

[RobinP]

Thought I'd replied to this earlier but obviously not

Just try to keep the bin shut with no obvious access points and wash it out after it's been emptied, maybe with some bleach to kill the little blighters.

[Kayleigh]

We get it cleaned and disinfected every two weeks and a clean bag put in..But we still get them. I get the jays fluid out but there still there wriggling away.

[Tracey.A]

Just make sure that everything that goes in the bin is bagged and the bag is knotted. That's what I do and so far I have never had any of these horrible maggots!

Tracey

[Blackbrook Eye]

Keep complaining to your local council, fortnightly collection of refuse is unacceptable in a throw away society, the best alternative is to compost your waste in a responsible manner.

Keith

[Pat]

I never throw away any food waste ( I don't have much anyway ) but if I do it goes out to the foxes and birds.

[Tormentil]

Originally Posted by Kayleigh

Can anyone tell me how to keep maggots out of the wheelie bin.

ASBO's ??

Unfortunately it's a sign of the times. Like you say, even if you have yer bin cleaned etc. there's is still a possibility that this may happen at some time or other.

A couple of years ago, during a hot spell, a great cloud of flies issued forth from our bin when I opened it.

[Cotham Marble]

Originally Posted by Kayleigh

Can anyone tell me how to keep maggots out of the wheelie bin.. and how to get rid of them when they are already in there. I have a phobia and went to put some rubbish in the bin, and got the fright of my life as there were maggot all inside when I lifted the lid.

Disposal of animal products is a challenge, it is almost imposible to prevent flies and also some beetles from being attracted to the smell of decay, and then getting access, short that is of using hermetically sealed containers.

Although everyone should try to compost home organic waste - meat products should never be included in a home composting system, to do so raises the risk of hygene and environmental health problems. Also using plastic as a wrapping is generally a bad practice as it actually promotes the decay processes which attract the flies etc.

For anyone who has access to an open fire, burns woody garden waste on a bonfire or who uses a barbicue, burning small amouts of meat waste - bones etc, can render it safe for inclusion in a garden compost system.

To minimise the chance of maggot infestation, wrapping the waste and keeping it in a freezer until the day before bin collection would be a solution - although many people might find that unpallatable. Of course care would need to be taken to ensure complete separation from stored food in the freezer. Alternatively dusting the waste with garden lime before wrapping in several layers of paper will decrease the rate of decay and limit the odours which attract insects.

The best and most ecological solution is to become vegetarian.

CM

[snowdrop]

I used to have this problem and being of a small stature there was a danger of my disappearing into the bin when trying to reach the bottom corners. Luckily, I now pay the small sum of 50p per fortnight to have an enterprising gent steam clean it for me.

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by Blackbrook Eye

Keep complaining to your local council, fortnightly collection of refuse is unacceptable in a throw away society, the best alternative is to compost your waste in a responsible manner.

Keith

The flies can get in the top of the bin under the rim..

I do compost but you cant compost all waste...
I have three compost bins,
We also have a green wheelie bun for compostable waste.

[djackso]

Originally Posted by Cotham Marble

Alternatively dusting the waste with garden lime before wrapping in several layers of paper will decrease the rate of decay and limit the odours which attract insects.

I like the garden lime idea! I may try this

[Cotham Marble]

Originally Posted by Kayleigh

We also have a green wheelie bun for compostable waste.

If you have a collection service that allows you to include garden waste with your kitchen waste then you might try packing aromatic foliage from your garden with the meat waste - this may put off the flies. Plants such as feverfew and tansy certainly deter fruit flies to some degree as I've tested this by smearing the foliage over the top of a compost bin. If this works you would have a cheap and ecological solution to your maggot problem.

CM

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by Cotham Marble

If you have a collection service that allows you to include garden waste with your kitchen waste then you might try packing aromatic foliage from your garden with the meat waste - this may put off the flies. Plants such as feverfew and tansy certainly deter fruit flies to some degree as I've tested this by smearing the foliage over the top of a compost bin. If this works you would have a cheap and ecological solution to your maggot problem.

CM

This might be worth a try..I will have to start growing feverfew as it multiplies rapidly, the only problem is the green bin is for green waste, the black bin for landfill so the plants will have to be put in the black bin.
we don't get maggot problems in the green or compost bins.

[RobinP]

I've just check my wheelie bin (in the rain!) the lid fits flush with the top so no flies can get in, I would get the council to replace yours as it soundes defective or cover it with a bin liner or similar and tie it on when not in use.

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by RobinP

I've just check my wheelie bin (in the rain!) the lid fits flush with the top so no flies can get in, I would get the council to replace yours as it soundes defective or cover it with a bin liner or similar and tie it on when not in use.

Thanks Robin, I will find a massive rock to put on top.

[christina]

A few years ago when I lived alone (before meeting my partner) I used to keep my black bin bag inside my conservatory and any food waste would be frozen in the top drawer of my freezer, away from other foodstuffs. I found this worked very well. It meant that my house didn't stink of food waste. Now, if we have food waste, which isn't very often (meat or bones) I leave it out for the foxes (I assume they are foxes anyway lol). Mid Beds have just started a food waste recycling bin which will take fruit and veg, bread, meats, fish and stuff. I think we shall try this but, it will mean that our black bin (for ordinary rubbish) will be defunct. All that will go into the black bin will be fag ends lol...

[RobinP]

Yes, the only things we put in the black sack these days are the bits of plastic packaging that can't be re-cycled, a few used household items (j cloths for example) and window envelopes.

[Kayleigh]

The freezing is a good idea..
But I have no room in the freezer..
The bin is being emptied on Thursday so will get steam cleaned (£3) a time.

[Lance Morgan]

Blow fly maggots feed on rotten meat. Fly lays eggs on meat = maggots.
Put meat/waste food in a sealed bag and in bin with lid and fly cannot lay eggs on it = no maggots.
Sorted

[NatureTrainee]

Originally Posted by Blackbrook Eye

Keep complaining to your local council, fortnightly collection of refuse is unacceptable in a throw away society, the best alternative is to compost your waste in a responsible manner.

Keith

??? unacceptable? maybe it will get people to rethink how they live and make different choices when purchasing to minimise waste and packaging. It baffles me that people think it is a human right to have waste taken away - at some point there will be nowhere else to put all our waste - why wait until that point to wean us off our throw away lifestyles??

[shei111]

Originally Posted by NatureTrainee

??? unacceptable? maybe it will get people to rethink how they live and make different choices when purchasing to minimise waste and packaging. It baffles me that people think it is a human right to have waste taken away - at some point there will be nowhere else to put all our waste - why wait until that point to wean us off our throw away lifestyles??

Hello the only way to kill the smell of bins is jeyes fluid which I use for the bird table and area, Im lucky only living 1 mile from household dump so if we have BBQ at least I can get the old food , bones etc taken away very quickly, shei.

[Tormentil]

Originally Posted by NatureTrainee

.....It baffles me that people think it is a human right to have waste taken away...

It's not a 'right', it's a service we pay for.