Garbage can smell like many different things, yet the odor is never pleasant. Some business owners are lucky enough to have relatively manageable dumpster smells behind their establishment. For some, the stink is only noticeable on particularly hot days or when the dumpster lid is lifted.
Other businesses, however, aren’t so lucky. Restaurant and grocery store managers often have to deal with the worst garbage smells due to the quantities of food they discard. What’s worse, on some occasions that stinky odor might even seep into your business, driving away customers and ruining employee morale.
Luckily, with a few simple steps, any business can get dumpster odors under control. If your trash has a stink problem, try following these five steps. Your trash services, customers, and workers will thank you.
Step 1: Get The Right Bags
If you’re not using trash bags already, now’s the time to make the switch. Well-tied garbage bags seal odors inside so that only a foul whiff or two can escape. You may need to switch to sturdier bags if smells are still a problem– your bags could be breaking open when tossed in the dumpster.
Step 2: Keep it Dry
Smelly bacteria and mold thrive in a moist, warm environment. Do your best to keep liquids out of the trash bins, bags, and the dumpster itself. You can also “air out” the dumpster by leaving the lid or side doors open on dry days. Though this might make the odor worse at first, you’ll dry out any juices that might be causing the smell, which will reduce the problem over time.
Step 3: Add Odor-Removing Agents
Next, bring in outside materials to counteract the dumpster’s smell. Baking soda and kitty litter are popular materials that can help fight garbage odors. Next time the dumpster is emptied, toss a few cups of kitty litter and baking soda on the metal floor– the litter will absorb liquid, and the soda will absorb odors. If you use a rental dumpster, be sure to check with your trash services before adding any odor-removal materials.
Step 4: Keep Invasive Pests At Bay
Even if you take the steps above, feral cats, mice, or raccoons could still wreck your efforts by ripping open trash bags in search of a meal. Since food tempts pests to raid the trash, try composting organic waste to keep critters out of your dumpster. You can also invest in motion-sensor lights or using taste-deterrents like peppermint oil to discourage animal invasions.
Step 5: Talk To Your Trash Services
Finally, if you use a dumpster rental, reach out to your trash removal service for tips about dumpster odor control. The waste removal company can tell you which odor removal methods they prefer and offer guidance for how to prevent odors from building up again in the future.
The average person generates more than four pounds of trash each day. When that trash piles up over the course of a week, bad smells naturally start to gather. Though garbage never smells pretty, it doesn’t have to reek unbearably. Spare your nose from the stench by using this five-step process. With patience and a strong stomach, you’ll be able to keep your foul dumpster odors under control.
