A waste collector known as Ashley, a self-described "bin-fluencer" from South-East England, has urged households to keep their food waste bins out of direct sunlight during hot weather to prevent them from becoming breeding grounds for maggots, flies, and rats. The 37-year-old shared the advice in a video that has garnered over 8,000 views.
Binman Explains the Rule for This Week
Ashley said: "I've said it before and I'm saying it again. Do not put your food waste directly in the sun the whole week, OK? It gets collected weekly. I'm not talking about just on bin day because sometimes, yes, you can't put it in the shade outside your house. But when it's in your garden, if it's at the front of your house, at the back of your house, wherever, find some shade."
Simple Change to Avoid Smell and Pests
He added: "Under a bush, in a bush, it could be under a table, under a chair, under the kids' slides, just somewhere out of the sun because it absolutely reeks if it's just sitting outside your house. I'm doing you a favour. You don't want maggots because when you empty it, the maggots are going to stay in there, trapped flies, maybe some rats, maybe whatever because it's cooking in the bins. I know the sun moves, maybe just put it under a chair, put a towel over the chair, shade, problem solved."
Viewers Share Their Own Struggles
The video prompted dozens of responses from viewers, with many sharing their own difficulties in keeping food waste under control during hot weather. One commenter wrote: "Help. I've double bagged everything and it's been sitting in the shade and it still smells." Another person said: "Hope you and all the other bin people keep cool in this heat." A third commentor added: "It's a big wheelie bin. It's a bit hard to keep it in shade, I can't wheel it round to other side of house when sun moves around either." Someone else said: "Isn't that common sense?" A fifth person added: "I put six fish heads in the food bin on Sunday, full sun, can't wait for the bin men on Friday, looks like an alien now."
Ashley concluded: "It's not just for my benefit, it's for yours as well. If you can do that, everyone will be happier."
