Skip bins provide an efficient and environmentally friendly way of managing household and garden waste at home. However, since they are placed in an open location outside the home, it becomes easy for pests to access them. Pests such as roaches, ants, spiders, and rats can crawl into your home and present an infestation problem as you may be forced to fumigate the premises. Here are some actionable steps that you can take to keep pests away from your skip bin.

Use the skip bin lid

Most residential skip bins come with a lid that is used to keep the bin closed when it is not in use. Always close and lock the bin lid after using the bin to ensure that pests don't crawl inside. Besides keeping pests away, the lid can also lock out pets such as cats and dogs from accessing the bin and rummaging through the trash. This will save you from having to clean up the area around the bin.

Remember that cats and dogs can also lift the lid and jump inside the bin if it isn't locked. If the bin you have doesn't have a locking mechanism, you can improvise with a cord or place a slightly heavy load on top of the lid so that it can't be lifted. However, take care not to damage the lid as you may be fined by your bin hire company.

Dispose of food correctly

Pests are usually attracted to food waste; therefore, you can keep them away from your bin by disposing of food correctly. Make use of the kitchen disposal to avoid dumping cooked food and vegetables into the skip bin. In fact, most bin hire companies have regulations against dumping food waste in skip bins. When disposing of food containers, make sure that they are closed, or wrap them in plastic bags before putting them in the skip bin.

Also, avoid dumping biological waste inside your bin. As long as the bin does not have waste that's appealing to pests, they will not be attracted to it.

Clean your bin regularly

Pests such as roaches and rats are attracted to dirty and smelly areas. If your bin isn't cleaned regularly, it will create an appealing environment for the pests. If you have hired a bin for long term use, make sure that it's always clean. You can clean it once a week using detergent and non-corrosive chemicals. You can also use vinegar and diluted bleach as they have a scent which deters pests from skip bins.

Follow these tips to ensure that your skip bin is free from pests. Also, make sure that you have a suitable arrangement for collection so that waste doesn't remain within your home long enough to attract pests.