Wildlife-Friendly Trash Disposal: Trash Bins
Trash can entangle,
choke, and starve wildlife. This week we’ve been suggesting tips for disposing garbage to lessen harm to animals. Yesterday we talked about twine and fishing line. For our fourth and
final tip, we turn to trash bins.
Tip #4: Wildlife-Proof Your Trash Bin
For wildlife, the more redolent the rubbish, the better. The Humane Society suggests discouraging scavenging by minimizing odors, washing and rinsing all food containers. That includes plastic food wrap, which you should always keep in closed bags or containers.
Never leave trash bins unopened. For extra security, strap lids with a bungee cord tied to the handles. Better yet, cart out trash the morning it’s collected rather than the night before.
Connecticut-based Bearicuda sells wildlife-proof trash receptacles, including a Varmint Vault that keeps out small animals, like raccoons, chipmunks, and squirrels. The Vault features an automatic latching mechanism and a tough, durable body made of up to 50 percent recycled materials.
Read More:
Landlocked Ocean Love: Give Green
Landlocked Ocean Love: Park Pick-Up
Acorn Shortage Leaves Squirrels Hungry
Image by iStockphoto/Vladimir Mitsner
Melissa Pandika is an editorial intern at Sierra and a graduate journalism student at Stanford University. Her interests include environmental health
and justice, urban environmental issues, and conservation
biology. She has a soft spot for cetaceans.
