Rats and other vermin are among the most common dumpster problems. Not only are the rodents capable of making huge messes around waste disposal areas by removing trash, but they also carry diseases such as rat bite fever. Help your business avoid dumpster infestations with the following tips.

How to Keep Rats Out of Your Commercial Dumpster

1. Eliminate Habitats

Make it difficult for rats to create burrows around waste containers. Place dumpsters on top of concrete pads to prevent burrowing, and keep nearby grass cut low.

Uproot and relocate any thick hedges or stand-alone shrubs that disguise burrows. If shrubbery conceals the containers, install solid fencing around them instead to discourage rodent activity.

2. Keep the Lids Closed

Ensure dumpster lids remain closed when not in use. Attach clamps if the lids don’t fit tightly.

If an overloaded waste receptacle is a continuous problem, replace it with a larger size or add another dumpster so there’s enough space to avoid open lid issues that attract raccoons, insects, possums, mice, and rats.

3. Utilize Garbage Disposals

Install garbage disposals in all sinks or use existing ones to deal with food waste. The fewer food scraps in your receptacles, the less attractive they become to rats.

Never throw food waste directly into the containers, and use heavy-duty, odor-sealing trash bags if garbage disposals are unavailable or require repair. Make it clear to employees that the bags must be tied before getting thrown out.

4. Perform Regular Inspections & Cleanings

Inspect the dumpsters every month or so for rust, holes, leaks, and lids that no longer close correctly. Replace damaged containers with reconditioned or new models to maintain a sanitary commercial environment. Clean the receptacles and their underlying slabs a few times a year to eliminate food particles, grease, and other grime attractive to vermin. 

If you want to keep your dumpsters pest-free, schedule waste collection services with Southeast Waste Disposal. The trash removal company has served businesses throughout the Wiregrass Area of Southeast Alabama since 2004. Call (334) 774-4158 today to request trash pickup services, or visit the website to learn more about options.