Minimizing Dumpster Odor
If you regularly use a dumpster at your place of business (or rent one from an outlet such as Affordable Container), you will want to do whatever possible to keep odor coming out of the unit at a minimum so neighbors and customers do not become offended while on or near your property. Taking a few precautionary steps can greatly reduce the amount of odor coming from your dumpster. Here are some tips to use in keeping your dumpster from becoming overly odorous.
Add Some Citrus
Orange peels can naturally mask odor within a dumpster. Place a few mesh bags on the interior walls of your dumpster using duck tape to hold them in place. Fill each bag with orange peels. Change out the peels every few days so you have a fresh scent circulating within the dumpster regularly.
Sprinkle Baking Soda
When you get a new dumpster delivery, sprinkle a box of baking soda into the bottom of the unit before you start filling it with trash. Baking soda neutralizes odor and placing it into the bottom will help absorb smells from anything that may seep out from a bag of trash.
Watch What You Dump
If you work in a food industry environment, your dumpster will be prone to odor. Consider separating your scraps and minimizing waste by setting up a compost pile on your property for biodegradable items. This will allow you more room in the dumpster for non-biodegradable waste and you will benefit from the rich soil the compost provides. This can be used in gardens or to help plants grow on your property. If you are placing grease into a dumpster, make sure it is contained in a spill-proof container before placing inside.
Bag Responsibly
Always garbage bags when throwing waste into your dumpster to both decrease odor and to help keep wildlife and rodents away from the unit. It is best to double bag items that are pungent to help mask odor. Before placing waste into a garbage bag, spray the interior of the bag with a mixture made from peppermint oil and water. This will keep many pests such as mice and raccoons away from the trash and it will give your dumpster a fresher scent as well.
Do your best not to spill any trash on the outside of the garbage bags. After the bags are tied shut, give them another spritz with the peppermint oil mixture before tossing them into the dumpster. You can also add a few peppermint-oil saturated cotton balls directly to your dumpster to enhance the good smells over the bad ones.