One of the most common run-ins with outside pests is caused by outdoor commercial dumpsters. If you own a restaurant or a food business, it is common to wonder what the best method is for deterring pests from your dumpster. You are at risk of finding cockroaches, mice, rats, or ants in your business’s dumpster. With this being a common issue, a pest run-in can be determined by many factors, some of which your business can manage.
8 Common Pests
These are 7 of the most common pests that affect commercial businesses:
- Cockroaches
- Mice
- Rats
- Termites
- Ants
- Mosquitoes
- Flies
- Raccoons
What are the Red Flags? Indications of Pests
There are a few common indicators of pests present in your area of concern. Keep an open eye for these red flags.
- Insect egg casings ex: Cockroach egg casings
- An excessive amount of flies in the area
- Constant rodent droppings: Ex: mice and rat droppings
- Strong urine smells
- Fabric or lint nests
Best Pest Prevention Tips
It is very crucial to take precautions that help prevent pests from entering your dumpster. One of the best ways to prevent pests from getting into your commercial dumpster is by being mindful and cautious about what you throw away. It is also vital to keep up on regular dumpster maintenance to ensure cleanliness and appropriate conditions for your establishment.
Read below for the dos and donts of commercial dumpster management.
How You and Your Staff can Prevent Pests
Commercial dumpsters are usually considered as a part of management protocol daily. It is important to make sure that your staff s aware of the preventive protocols for your dumpster depending on your business. Read some recommended methods of commercial business dumpster management below.
- Clean or rinse waste off of recyclable items and materials such as plastic, glass, and metal containers.
- Clean your trash cans inside and out. Cleaning your trash cans is recommended monthly for commercial businesses and more frequently if necessary. This can also prevent the infestation of hornets, wasps, and other insects or bugs.
- Close up your dumpster lid to enclose the trash. This will keep pests out of the dumpster and help contain the smell of waste.
- Secure any potential access points that insects or rodents may use to enter the dumpster. Block them out!
- Frequently empty your dumpster to remove sources that pests constantly search for such as water, liquid, food, and shelter. Some dumpsters commercial dumpsters may need to be emptied daily. This is all determined by your business needs.
- Unsure your dumpster is placed on a surface such as concrete.
- Maintain a clean and sanitary environment
- Enforce waste sorting methods. An example of this is by creating a waste sorting system that your staff can follow easily. Use designated bins for the items to be sorted into before the designated commercial dumpster waste is disposed of.
I have dumpster pests! What do I do now?
If you have encountered a pest infestation, call pest control experts immediately to solve the issue as soon as possible. In the meantime, keep following cleanliness guidelines to prevent any more problems.
The Bottom Line: Learn and Practice Proper Commercial Dumpster Waste Management
Learning to manage a commercial dumpster for a business such as a restaurant is very important. This will help create a successful and clean business. Dumpster management is more than just monthly maintenance. It can include weekly or daily protocols depending on your needs. Follow a dumpster management plan and always keep an eye out for pests. For more information about renting, managing, or cleaning a commercial dumpster, contact the dumpster rental experts today at Canyon View Dumpsters.
