What about ants and other bugs?

Exposed food scraps tend to attract fruit flies, ants, and other insects if left uncovered. There are several ways to manage this problem, including: 

  • Keeping a piece of cardboard on the bottom of the empty container then piling food and yard waste on top to keep decomposed organics from accumulating on the bottom,
  • Covering your food scraps with shredded white paper, grass clipping or other yard debris, 
  • Putting your food scraps in paper bags or wrapping them in other compost-safe paper (i.e. brown paper, butcher paper, newspaper, or using a paper landscape bag as a liner inside your green bin to fill), or 
  • Utilizing an ASTM D6400 BPI certified compostable bag for food scraps,  
  • Additionally, regularly setting your green bin to the curb for weekly pick-up will also help to minimize its attraction to critters looking for free food.

Show All Answers

1. How do I request a free food scraps collection pail?
2. Won't putting food scraps in my green waste bin attract raccoons and other pests?
3. What if my neighbor's green waste bin smells or attracts pests?
4. What about ants and other bugs?
5. Am I required to participate?
6. Should I compost everything I can?