Why Are Animals Getting Into My Garbage?

Walking out to your garbage spilled across the driveway is a less than ideal

morning -- especially knowing that this is an indicator of something getting into the trash.

Not only can this be a nuisance to clean up, but it can also turn into a recurring problem.

Before grabbing your (humane!) animal traps, first assess what the problem is and how

you can prevent it from happening in the first place.

Odors

The odor from food, even if it’s gone bad, can be a sweet scent for animals. Seeing as

some of their bodies are also designed differently than us, how they consume their food

doesn’t affect their digestion. This is why that old chicken or extra steak is a gourmet meal

for them. To combat this, freeze your meats in the freezer. And throw them away the

night before pickup! Frozen meat is much harder to smell and it likely won’t defrost before

the truck picks it up.

Garbage Lids

Another thing to consider is how your critters are making their way into the garbage.

For humans, having thumbs is easy, and it also enables raccoons to get into your garbage

as well -- even with lids! To combat both at the same time, take bungee cords and strap

them overtop the lids to add an extra layer of security.

It’s Left Out Too Long

Similar to the first reason, animals have a keen sense of smell, and can certainly tell when

there’s a tasty treat nearby. The longer you let old garbage sit and permeate, the easier it

is for animals to detect it, and make their way over. Even if you can’t, there’s a good chance

they CAN smell it!

Efficient garbage removal is something necessary in order to keep your home operating as

it should, while also maintaining a clean area. If you’re ready to improve this in your own

home, make sure you’re enlisting the help of a company who can help easily and seamlessly!

Green Improvements You Can Make At Home

The concept of going green is always present in the minds of homeowners, however the

action of doing it sometimes isn’t. By the middle of the year, resolutions that haven’t been

met do sometimes fall between the cracks, however creating a greener planet should always

be a goal. Below are a few ways you can do that at home, at very low costs!

Less Plastic

When you’re at the grocery store, consider 86’ing the idea of using a ton of plastic bags to

bring everything home. It might seem like a small change, but 10-12 bags on average is a

lot of plastic that ends up getting thrown out. As an alternative, try using a canvas bag or

something similar, which has more than one use.

Ditch Aerosol

Whether it’s a cleaning product or a body spray, cans that are loaded with aerosol can be

harmful to breathe, as well as for the environment. As it’s been noted, the air surrounding

our planet is getting worse and worse, while protective layers are becoming thinner as more
\pollutants enter the area. Try traditional spray bottles instead for a better result.

Collect Water

Instead of using water and racking up the bill every time you need some, consider methods

in which you can reuse old water! Place a bucket inside the shower or collect rainwater and

use it for something else! This can be great for washing your cars, doing a load of laundry,

watering the plants and more! The opportunities are seemingly endless and can not only have

a positive impact on your life and the earth, but your wallet benefits as well.

While you’re focusing on some of these tactics this summer, also make sure you’re doing what

you can to improve your waste strategy. As the temperature increases, foul odors and animals

will be out to grab last night’s trash from your bins. Combat this by enlisting the help of a waste company that cares!

Tips To Buy The Best Home For Your Family

Buying a home is oftentimes one of the best experiences an individual or a family can have.

There are so many features to look forward to, the thrill of decorating a new living space,

and so much more. But in reality, there’s also a lot of work that goes into buying a home --

new or old. In order to make sure that your experience is well-rounded and your new home

is everything you imagined it would be and more, there are a few tips to doing so before

you sign the paperwork.

Perform an Inspection

Every home has different components in how it works, and the one you want may or

may not be more difficult than another. This is why it’s so important to have a proper

home inspection on your home before you make any sort of offers, especially because

there can be issues with the foundation, plumbing, HVAC and more. Knowing this from

the beginning prevents unwanted fixes and over inflated prices for something that may

not be in tip-top shape.

Learn Your Town’s Codes

When thinking of specific counties, states and towns to live in, it’s important to know that

all of them have different requirements and regulations within them. This includes everything

from building permits, garbage pickup, street parking rules and more. Before buying your

home. It’s great to know what type of rules you’ll be expected to follow are -- especially if

one is of particular interest to you!

Use Word Of Mouth

There’s nothing wrong with getting second opinions from people in the same town -- and

should you feel compelled enough, ask neighbors and residents! Those who are presently

living inside the town likely have the best insight as to what can be expected of a homeowner

-- and more importantly, they’ll be honest!

Of course, specific homes within certain counties in CT have garbage pickup rules which

are important to know. If you’re interested in learning more about what we can do to help

you in your new home, make sure you’re getting in contact with us ASAP!

Waste That Cannot Go In The Trash

When we’re finished using something, our first thought is to throw it into the trash, which

can sometimes be the best option for most waste. But for some items, they simply cannot

be thrown in the regular trash, and require specific disposal. To alleviate this from happening,

it’s better to know what you can throw where, and what you cannot. Below are a few common

items that should be disposed of elsewhere in a safe manner.

Lightbulbs

It’s no surprise that lightbulbs are one of the top things that shouldn’t go in the normal

trash. Because they can sometimes house chemicals and are made of glass, it’s important to

understand that they can be toxic and dangerous. Especially if you’re using a fluorescent

bulb, make sure to throw them out in designated recycling facilities to avoid getting

penalized by your local municipality for throwing them out.

Sharp Knives/Blades

While this isn’t technically something that is illegal to put into the trash, it can pose a huge

issue for both your own safety and the safety of others. Considering that old knives can be

reused for other applications, it makes sense to dispose of them in a way that doesn’t harm

anyone in the process. Putting them into a cardboard box and labeling them is a great way

to move and throw them out without posing injury to others.

Of course, there are specific circumstances that apply to some types of garbage, and it’s

important to know what they are. Things like Christmas trees and other items all have

specific rules and should be followed. If you’re interested in learning more about how

City Carting’s waste services can help you, get in contact with us today!

How To Throw An Environmentally Conscious BBQ

With BBQ’s becoming a reality in just a few short weeks, supermarkets will be stocking

the shelves with extra steak, chicken, sausage and more! While everyone is enjoying

their spoils on sunny days with friends, it’s often not thought of as to how that bbq can be

conducted in a way that is less harmful to the environment. And while many might think

that this particular bbq is on a smaller scale, it is important to make sure that you’re

contributing to the collective effort to make sure you’re being conscious of the environment

as well!

Cook Your Food At Once!

If you’re using anything other than propane, you know that charcoal and wood can

contribute to toxins in the air — which can be harmful to both you and your guests!

Instead of keeping the grill on for that second round of burgers, consider cooking them

all at once, and killing the heat as soon as possible. This helps to reduce any pollutants

in the air while also giving your guests a selection of prepared food to choose from as the

day goes on and their appetite starts back up.

Reuse!

Don’t settle for paper and plastic items if you have the chance to reuse! The amount of plastic

wasted during a barbecue is typically very high, and difficult to separate all at once. To

combat this, make sure your guests are eating off of your plates from inside and using

metal utensils to ensure that nothing is wasted and the only thing you have to do is run

the dishwasher!

Separate Your Trash

It’s one thing to keep your trash in one bin, and another to have it separated. The easy solution

to this dilemma is to have a few different cans next to each other which are all labeled with

what should go in them. Food, recyclables and general trash can all be placed into different bins

which can be thrown away correctly, preventing any cross contamination between materials.

This makes the disposal process easy for both you AND your waste company!

Summer Recycling Tips You Shouldn't Forget

As summer draws near, it becomes much more apparent that our weekends and sunny days

will be spend outdoors, rather than inside. With the warm weather rapidly approaching, plans

for barbecues and family gatherings are often being constructed, as are trips to the beach

and other types of vacations. But what comes with people who are constantly on the move

is an excess of materials that end up in the trash, or worse, thrown into the environment.

As these activities draw near, it’s important to remember the recycling tips you’ve known

over the years in order to keep your environment cleaner, as well as save on the cost of

disposable items!

Switch From Paper

Even if you’re going to be out for a picnic or a bbq, you can still bring utensils and other

items that don’t immediately get thrown in the trash. Items such as your forks, knives,

cups and plates can be great ways to save on costs and have less garbage to throw

away afterwards. If plates are too much, consider a paper plate and make sure to recycle

it as soon as you’re finished with it!

Buy In Bulk

If you’re the type to host parties often, consider buying in bulk instead of in smaller

quantities. A perfect example of this is water! Consider renting a water jug that can

dispense water into reusable cups instead of buying a huge pack of water bottles which

can end up in the regular trash, or on the ground. This reduces your plastic usage by a

large amount and helps keep the clutter at bay!

Conserve Water

Sometimes it’s ok to let the little ones loose and allow them ot use the sprinkler for their

own personal waterpark. On the other hand, it can be very wasteful if you’re doing this on a

regular basis. Instead of letting the water go to waste, consider using a small inflatable

pool surrounding these sprinklers to ensure that you can trap the water and use it for

something else, like washing your car or watering the plants!

Of course, your trash is important, as is total recycling during these months. Make sure

you’re on top of your recycling schedule and making sure that everything is being

disposed of the way it should be this season!

How You Can Spruce Up The House This Spring

Sprucing up your home can be a terrific way to de-stress on the weekend,

while also improving the quality of your life at home. You’re more encouraged

to invite people over, and you may even add value to your home! By performing

small activities on the weekend or after work, you can make small improvements

to your home which can result in a much more positive living experience.

Declutter your Home and Remove Trash

Consider starting by removing items that you no longer want from your home.

Your home should be your haven and you should love what is in it, but it should

not be over-cluttered! Go through each room and remove items that you no long

er use, and consider donating old items to a homeless shelter or another charity

shelter in your area. The less clutter that you have in your home, the better you will feel.

If you have a lot of trash in your home, you’ll likely want to remove it as soon as

possible. Trash build-up can lead to many problems, and even illnesses if you’re

not careful. It can be a pain to haul off trash, but that’s precisely the function of your

local waste management company! If you don’t yet have a pick-up schedule, it might

be time to consider this!

Going Greener in your Home

Consider adding recycling into your home’s routine to help spruce up the look and

feel of things lying around You won’t have as much trash to clutter up your kitchen, bedrooms and living spaces, and you’ll be able to improve the environment at the

same time! Recycling is imperative in today’s society, so it’s important to make sure

that your waste management company offers this service to you as well. (Hint: we do!)

If you’re interested in other ways you can go greener at home, we’re here to help!

City Carting has proudly served over 11,000 happy clients in the Stamford area over

the past 20 years, and we’re ready to help your home thrive as well!