Welsh households are being advised to place a common household item in their wheelie bins to prevent flies and maggots this spring. As temperatures rise, wheelie bins become a breeding ground for flies, but lining them with cardboard is a simple and effective solution to keep them clean and odour-free.
Why flies are a problem in spring
As spring brings milder weather and brighter days to the UK, it also brings an unpleasant side effect: foul-smelling wheelie bins that attract swarms of flies. When temperatures reach 15°C, flies begin laying eggs, and wheelie bins provide an ideal incubator due to their warm, humid interiors. Food waste leaking from rubbish bags offers a tempting meal for these pests, leading to infestations of maggots as the weather warms up.
Simply rinsing your bin with a garden hose is not enough, as stubborn food particles remain, causing bad smells and harmful bacteria. However, Dean Botham from Wheelie Bins has revealed a straightforward method to prevent flies from laying eggs: using cardboard to manage moisture levels.
How cardboard helps
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, and then it can be disposed of afterwards."
Food waste contains more moisture than most people realise, which seeps through plastic bags and collects at the bottom of the bin, forming pools of liquid. Flies can detect decomposing material from great distances, and even a small amount of moisture is enough to attract them in spring. Cardboard, being highly absorbent, soaks up any liquid waste residue when placed at the bottom of the bin.
Using cardboard to line wheelie bins not only makes them easier to keep hygienic and fresh but also keeps them dry, making them far less attractive to flies. Maggots cannot thrive in dry conditions. Cardboard is better than other materials, such as newspaper, because it is thicker and more durable. Unlike newspaper, which turns into pulp, cardboard retains its structure.
How to prevent flies in your wheelie bin
To prevent flies, simply save cardboard from delivery parcels, cereal packets, or frozen food boxes. Flatten the cardboard and place it at the bottom of your wheelie bin before adding rubbish bags. The cardboard will be disposed of during regular collection, so replace it each time the bin is emptied to keep it maggot-free throughout the warmer months.
Other tips include double-bagging your rubbish before disposal and ensuring all air is expelled from the bags to minimise unpleasant odours. It is also advisable to keep your wheelie bin in a shaded area, as direct sunlight increases the likelihood of odours developing and attracting flies.
