Brown Bin and Compost: How to Avoid Rats, Mice and Fruit Flies

Food-waste collection in the brown bin and backyard composting are great habits. Poorly managed, though, they can turn into a buffet for rats, mice and fruit flies. Here is how to compost without inviting pests.

The brown bin: good habits

• Keep the lid closed and latched. A lid left ajar is enough to attract rodents and raccoons.
• Wrap scraps in newspaper or a paper bag accepted by your borough: less smell and less liquid at the bottom of the bin.
• Freeze meat and fish scraps until collection day, especially in summer.
• Put the bin out on collection day, not the night before.
• Rinse the bin regularly and let it dry with the lid open, under cover.
• Store the bin away from doors and the foundation, on a hard surface rather than on soil.

The backyard composter: rodent-proof it

• Choose a closed composter and lay fine metal mesh (about 6 mm) under the base to stop rodents from digging in from below.
• Do not add meat, fish, dairy, oil or fat.
• Cover each addition of kitchen scraps with brown material (dead leaves, shredded cardboard).
• Turn it regularly: an active, warm compost is less attractive to rodents looking for shelter.
• Keep the compost moist, not soggy.

Fruit flies in the kitchen

The small countertop bin is often where fruit flies start. Empty it often, wash it and keep the lid closed. A homemade trap (a little apple cider vinegar with a drop of dish soap in a small container) helps reduce their numbers while you remove the source. If they persist, also check drains and forgotten fruit.

Signs of rodents

• holes or burrows near the composter, shed or foundation;
• droppings near the brown bin or in the garage;
• a gnawed bin or composter;
• runways in the lawn or along a fence.

When to call an exterminator

If you see burrows, rats in daylight or signs of rodents inside the house, act quickly: rat populations grow fast. Our technicians find the source, install secure bait stations and block access to the building. Rat and mouse treatments come with a 6-month guarantee. Call ExtermExpress at (514) 295-7696, 24/7.