Condo Media - March 2014 - 26

HOMEOWNER'S CORNER

Talking Trash
Dumping Dos and Don'ts

W

hen it comes to getting rid
of garbage, many condo
dwellers are apt to simply
toss their waste down the
trash chute or into the dumpster and
call it a day. But improper dumping
can lead to stronger garbage smells and
more mess in trash facilities.

Trash Chutes and Dumpsters

Before you next haul out the trash,
here are few simple tips on how to help
the community keep its trash chutes
and dumpsters cleaner longer:
* Make sure that any garbage you throw
into the trash chute or dumpster is
properly sealed in a tied-off trash bag.
Not only does this reduce odors, it also
helps prevent loose trash from blowing
out of the dumpster or sticking to the
trash chute.
* Place your trash items in the dumpster; do not drop them off beside the
dumpster.
* Don't put overstuffed garbage bags down the trash
chute. It's easy for those
bags to get snagged,
stuck, or to burst.
* Never place hazardous
materials, such as paint,
motor oil, or car batteries, in the trash. Visit
search.earth911.com to ﬁnd
out where you can take these
items for safe disposal.

Scavenge No More

Having trouble with animals raiding your garbage cans? You're not
26

CONDO MEDIA * MARCH 2014

alone. Dogs, cats, raccoons, opossums,
rats, and other animals can have a kingsized buffet if they get into your trash
- even if the lids on your cans are
latched on properly.
Some things you shouldn't do:
* Don't put your cans out until shortly
before the scheduled pickup.
* Don't pour bleach, ammonia, or
other chemicals on the garbage.
Animals might be repelled only
temporarily, and the chemicals can
damage your yard and environment.
Also, garbage handlers aren't fond of
strong chemicals coating their hands
and clothes.
* Don't shoot or poison the animals.
They're hungry, they smell food, and
they need to eat to survive. They
don't realize they're causing you
trouble. If it's a pet, such as a neighbor's dog or cat, contact the owner

and explain the problem. You should
contact local animal control if you
need help solving the problem.
Options for deterring the scavengers:
* Stake the handles. If your garbage
cans have handles, drive stakes into
the ground and place the handles
around them. It prevents animals
from knocking over the cans.
* Try bungee cords. Connecting bungee cords helps secure the lids, and if
you wrap them around multiple cans,
may keep them in an upright position. You also may try connecting the
cords to a fence or other structure.
* Put them in a box. Put the cans in
a wooden or plastic box with a lid
and clasp. It hides unsightly cans and
adds another level of protection from
animals. Check association guidelines
to ensure your box complies.
Of course, it's another matter if
bears are the culprits. They're
stronger and a little more
determined than your
average scavenger.
The only way you're
guaranteed to keep
bears out of your trash
is a bear box, but be
sure to contact the association ﬁrst.
You may not be the only
one with bear trouble, and
the association may want
to consider purchasing bear
boxes for the community
or alerting residents to the
problem. CM
http://search.earth911.com
Condo Media - March 2014

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