Tips for a healthy organic waste bin in the summer months

Limit odours 

1. 
   

   Freeze leftover meat
   

   
   Freeze or chill your meat, poultry and fish leftovers and don’t take them out until the morning of your collection day. If you have room, store your food scraps in a container in the freezer. 

2. 
   

   Newsprint and essential oils
   

   
   Place newsprint at the bottom of your bin and spray it with a mixture of a few drops of tea tree essential oil diluted in lukewarm water. You can also pour two drops of oil directly onto the paper. After collection, remove the paper and clean the bin with white vinegar. 

3. 
   

   Sun protection
   

   
   Keep your bin out of direct sunlight and take it out for every collection, even if it’s not full. 

4. 
   

   Clean with vinegar
   

   
   Regular cleaning is essential. Wash your bins with pure or diluted white vinegar (25 ml of vinegar in 1 litre of water). Spray vinegar inside and outside the bin, then rinse and allow to dry before adding residual materials. 

5. 
   

   Baking soda or clay
   

   
   Pour baking soda or white or green clay into the bottom of the empty bin to absorb odours. You can also add a few drops of eucalyptus essential oil. After collection, remove any remaining bicarbonate or clay and clean the bin with white vinegar. 

Prevent the emergence of flies and maggots 

1. 
   

   Wrap your leftovers
   

   
   Wrap leftover meat, poultry or fish in paper or a paper bag before placing in the bin. You can also freeze leftovers until collection day. 

2. 
   

   Alternate layers of waste
   

   
   Alternate your table scraps with dry materials such as paper towels, newsprint, sawdust, wood shavings or dead leaves. 

3. 
   

   Avoid liquids
   

   
   Don’t put any liquids in your bin. 

4. 
   

   Protection and regular collection
   

   
   Keep your bin out of the sun with the lid tightly closed and take it out for every collection, even if there’s not much in it. 

5. 
   

   Eliminate grubs
   

   
   If grubs appear, spray them with hot water, salt or a mixture of water and vinegar.