Worried about smells or flies
Thousands of households across the UK use weekly food waste collections successfully every day. While warmer weather can cause food to break down more quickly, leading to stronger smells or attracting flies, there are some simple steps you can take to help prevent this.
Unlike your rubbish and recycling, your food waste will be collected every week. This means food won't be left sitting for two weeks, helping to reduce smells, discourage flies and keep your caddies cleaner, even during the summer months.
Following the simple tips below will help keep your caddy fresh and minimise any issues.
Top tips
- Keep your caddies out of direct sunlight where possible.
- Always keep the lids fully closed to help keep flies out.
- Don't put hot food straight into the caddy – let it cool first.
- Empty your kitchen caddy into your outdoor caddy regularly, rather than waiting until it's completely full.
- Tie your liner tightly before placing it in your outdoor caddy.
- Lock your outdoor caddy by lifting the handle after adding food waste.
- Rinse your kitchen caddy regularly using hot water. You can also add a little washing-up liquid, white vinegar or lemon juice to help keep it fresh.
- If flies are a concern, a light spray of a natural insect repellent, such as a citronella-based spray, around the outside of your caddy (not directly onto your food waste) may help discourage them.
What if I find maggots in my caddy?
During very warm weather, flies can lay eggs on exposed food waste, so maggots can occasionally appear if flies are able to get into the caddy. While unpleasant, this is a natural process and isn't unique to food waste collections – it can happen in any bin containing food.
Keeping the lid closed, storing your caddy in a shaded spot, tying your liner securely and emptying your caddy regularly will help prevent this. Any maggots will be removed when your food waste is collected each week.
