House and Blow Flies Most Problematic for PMPs Around Dumpsters, Poll Finds

CLEVELAND – Fly control in and around dumpsters, can be a challenge, particularly when it comes to large flies.

According to results from PCT’s most recent reader service poll found house flies (47%) and blow flies (43%) as the biggest problems around dumpsters. Only 10% of respondents said fruit flies were their biggest issue in and around dumpsters.

Garth McGlasson, a longtime pest management professional and QAL technician, shared on LinkedIn that house flies are his biggest challenge: I live in the mountains so anything that would attract bears or raccoons is thrown in the rubbish bin the same day as it gets picked up. House flies are pretty easy to control, mosquitoes are coming out in clouds now from our late snow and rain storms.

Richard Berman who consults with the industry as RCBerman, LLC, and is a member of the Urban Pest Management Technical Committee (UPMTC), wrote the feature “Talking Trash,” which appears in next month’s fly control issue. Berman said house flies are the biggest problem in and around dumpsters. “It comes down to poor sanitation and poor maintenance,” he said. “Even when there are no obvious breeding conditions nearby, odors from stinky dumpsters will draw house flies from great distances.”

Berman provided the following four tips for controlling flies in and around dumpsters:

(1) If dumpsters are overflowing, be sure to inform the customer. This may indicate a need for a larger capacity unit or more frequent pickups.

(2) Whenever possible, separate cardboard, paper, metal, and glass from general waste.

(3) If a dumpster is missing a cover, is damaged, or appears poorly maintained, advise the customer to have their waste service address these issues.

(4) We can treat in, on, and around dumpsters with residual sprays and baits to help reduce pest activity while the customer works to correct the underlying issues.

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