Wrap food waste in newspaper during heatwave
Published 1st July 09
HARROW Council is urging residents to wrap food waste in newspaper to minimise insect infestations during the heatwave.
While the authority collects food waste in the brown bin every week, some residents have reported maggots in their bins as temperatures soar.
The Council is advising householders to wrap food waste in newspaper before it is put in the outside brown bin to deter insects and also absorb any additional moisture.
The other sensible precaution is to ensure the lid of the brown bin is firmly shut. C
ollections on a weekly basis occur at a higher frequency than the gestation period of the fly maggot. That means that should a fly manage to lay eggs in the food waste, a problem with maggots will not develop.
Cllr Susan Hall, portfolio holder for the environment, said: "This is just common sense advice and in line with what the Government advises on food waste.
"Hopefully the problem will disappear when the heatwave passes but in the meantime, beat the bugs by using newspaper for kitchen scraps."
Householders are encouraged to put their brown bins out every week whether they are full or not.
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