A refuse collector has highlighted two frequent errors people make with their food waste bins that can lead to maggots, flies, and unpleasant odours, along with simple solutions to keep your bin fresh.
Common Food Waste Bin Mistakes
Food waste bins can become unhygienic surprisingly quickly. Within a couple of days, leftover scraps, peelings, and tea bags create a warm, damp environment that starts decomposing, releasing a strong smell as soon as the lid is lifted. In hotter weather, the situation worsens: liquids pool at the bottom, residue sticks to the sides, and flies are attracted, turning an eco-friendly practice into a messy chore.
British refuse collector Ashley, known as the No1 Binman on TikTok, shared his expert advice to help households avoid these issues.
1. Leaving Your Bin in Direct Sunlight
Depending on your home's orientation and bin placement, this may be unavoidable, but Ashley strongly advises against it. Many food waste bins are made from dark-coloured plastics that absorb heat, raising the temperature inside and causing food to spoil faster. This attracts flies, which can multiply and lead to a maggot infestation. When refuse collectors empty such bins, they have to handle the unpleasant mess. Ashley says: "Please stop putting your food waste caddies in the sun. Don't put them directly in the sun the whole time. Because they cook. Most places have dark colours somewhere on them, and they cook the food inside. You open them up [and there's] flies, maggots, everything."
2. Placing Food Waste Without a Liner
All food waste should be placed in a caddy liner before being transferred to the outdoor bin. These liners are biodegradable and compostable, making them easy for collectors to handle while keeping waste protected from flies. Although it may seem like an extra step, it saves hassle in the long run by maintaining bin hygiene and reducing the need for frequent cleaning. Ashley emphasises that if you don't use a liner, the binmen won't clean it for you. Without regular cleaning, mould, maggots, and germs will accumulate. He advises: "If you're going to put your food waste in there, please bag it up. Put it in a bag, newspaper, anything like that. Perfectly fine, not a problem. But don't put it in loose, because then it's going to stink forever until you clean it out. And then you're like, 'I'm not cleaning it out, it stinks'. I know! I smelt it when I was tipping it in!"
Final Tips
Avoid direct sunlight and always bag your food waste. By following these two simple steps, you can prevent smells, flies, and maggots, making the binmen's job easier and your kitchen more pleasant. As Ashley concludes: "Not in sunlight, and please bag it up. That's all. And then everyone's happy! The smell goes when we empty it. Winner winner, chicken dinner. Make sure you eat all your chicken dinner, because otherwise it goes in the food waste."
