How to keep flies away from rubbish containers?
Posted April 13, 2010 – 4:44 pm in: Green Cleaning TipsThis is more so aimed at people living here in the Netherlands (hence placing it in NL travel section), but of course all are welcome with tips if they have them
Anyway, I moved last year from putting rubbish in underground containers (shared) to a house where we now have the minicontainer system (afvalcontainer) – one for paper, one for general rubbish and one for foodstuff/garden waste
In the last weeks when we have had decent weather, the containers have been attracting flies (especially the green one of course).
As they are only emptied every two weeks then of course there is a limit to how much they can be cleaned (the outside and lid is always clean)
Anyway, is there a (preferably non chemical due to kids) way to keep flies away. (of course it can’t be as simple as “put it in a plastic bag as that defeats the purpose of seperating food waste!).
I also have to put nappies in the brown bin and do put them in bags, but of course in this weather in the sun then whilst it is not smelly, it obviously has enough edour to attract flies
I can’t imagine I am the only one who gets this, so thought I would throw it open to good idea’s.
I have tried a plastic container where flies are meant to go in and get stuck (they are not interested), one of the sticky tapes (not interested) and so am not sure what else to try now.
lol @ thx Vincent, good ideas so thanks
As far as I read it’s not possible (in our gemeente anyway) to use any bags (even bio-degradeable), and I would prefer not to use the bleach, clorine etc unless I had to, also leaving it in without washing for 2 weeks might mean it eating into the plastic itself.
As for nappies, you come and be a mummy for two of them in nappies with the glorious smells & more, then after a week see if you really would use washable ones (btw there is a debate about them not being friendly anyway because of washing chemicals and the necessity to wash at a high temperature (so energy costs), but not to take away from your suggestions, so thx :0)
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4 Comments
Ok, so how about a pet-chameleon? For fun you could have him sit on the different bins and watch him change his color accordingly? http://files.myopera.com/bentrein/albums/667375/chameleon.jpg
Seriously though, try calling the gemeente or the afvaldienst!
And how about this one… See if you can hang some transparent zip-lock bags half-filled with water over your bins… “Many people swear that a zip-lock bag filled half-way with water and attached over entry-ways will repel flies. No one yet knows how or why it works, but there is speculation that it has something to do with the way the moving water refracts light.”
http://www.howtogetridofstuff.com/pest-control/how-to-get-rid-of-flies/2/
This may or may not be of help to you but it works for me.
That said, in Spain where I live, the household refuse system is very different.
For cleaning and preventing odours, instead of using detergents, try using a cheap white vinegar. Vinegar has a multitude of uses!
http://www.versatilevinegar.org/usesandtips.html
Also it would help to line the bins with old newspaper at least 6 sheets thick. This will certainly help with the ‘glorious smells’! If the bins are very large (I imagine they must be to hold waste for 2 weeks) simply try and get old broadsheet newspapers and tape the sheets together to match the size of the bin. You would be surprised at how long they will last if lined sufficiently thickly.
A local newsagent, once they cut off the top of the newspaper to claim for unsold editions from the wholesaler, should be happy to help you out.
Have the same issue here.
The grey bin (restafval) we are required to use bags in.
That does solve problems for that one.
The green bin is a bit trickier, especially with garden waste.
Not only flies, but creepy stuff gets in as well.
One thing is to make sure it is stored in the shade – no sunlight on the bin (less change of stuff warming up).
While not keeping away flies, it does make it less.
Other than that – i`m as clueless as you – so i hope some people will have ideas
@ Vincent: someone explained that zip-lock thing.
Apparently, due to the reflection, it messes with their eyes or something – making the flies loose their way, or getting dizzy or something. Whether he was serious, i do not know.
I love the Chameleon idea LOL
If your rubbish area is accessed by a doorway then you can try hanging a bewadcurtain with the strips of beads [or knots] no more than 3 cm apart.
I tried this and it worked in stopping flies coming through our back door in Summer time.
Apparently flies are uncomfortable flying through a long thin gap. To ensure they don’t ‘rest’ on the curtain then walk their way in, you could spray the curtain every few weeks with a contact fly killer.
Then to compliment the critter sat on the bins add some foliage. A Vennus fly trap ;]