As spring brings milder weather and sunshine across the UK, it also brings an unwelcome side effect: foul-smelling wheelie bins that attract swarms of flies as the plastic containers heat up. When temperatures reach 15°C, flies begin laying eggs, and wheelie bins provide an ideal breeding ground due to their warm, damp conditions that allow maggots to thrive.
Why Wheelie Bins Attract Flies
During spring, it is essential to monitor your bins closely. Food waste leaking from rubbish bags offers an irresistible food source for these pests. Consequently, wheelie bins can quickly become infested with maggots as the mercury rises. A simple rinse with a garden hose is not enough, as stubborn food residue remains, spreading unpleasant odours and harmful bacteria.
Many people do not realise that wheelie bins are often filled with maggots and larvae eggs at this time of year.
The Simple Cardboard Solution
Fortunately, Dean Botham from Wheelie Bins has revealed a straightforward trick to prevent flies from laying eggs: using cardboard to manage moisture levels. Dean explained, "If liquid always seems to accumulate at the bottom of your bin, pad it out with cardboard or newspaper. This will absorb the liquid, which can then be disposed of afterwards."
How Cardboard Works
Food waste and leftover scraps contain far more moisture than most people realise. This moisture seeps through plastic bags and collects at the bottom of the bin, forming pools of liquid. Flies have a remarkable ability to detect decomposing matter from great distances, and even the smallest amount of moisture in a bin is sufficient to attract them during the spring months.
Cardboard, thanks to its highly absorbent properties, effectively soaks up any liquid waste residue when placed at the bottom of the bin. Using cardboard to line wheelie bins not only makes maintaining hygiene and freshness simpler but also keeps the bin dry, making it significantly less appealing for fly breeding. Maggots cannot survive in such dry conditions.
Cardboard surpasses other alternatives for deterring flies due to its thickness and durability. Unlike newspaper, which eventually disintegrates into pulp, cardboard maintains its structure.
How to Prevent Fly Infestations
Simply save cardboard from delivery parcels, cereal boxes, or frozen food packaging. Flatten the cardboard and place it at the bottom of your wheelie bin before adding rubbish bags. The cardboard is disposed of during regular collection, so replace it each time the bin is emptied to maintain a maggot-free environment throughout the warmer months.
Additionally, double-bagging rubbish before disposal is beneficial. Ensure all air is expelled from bags, as this helps minimise unpleasant smells. It is also advisable to position your wheelie bin in a shaded area, as direct sunlight increases the likelihood of odours developing and attracting flies.
