"MaryL" -OUT-THE-LITTER> wrote in message
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> "Julie Bove" > wrote in message
> ...
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>> "MaryL" -OUT-THE-LITTER> wrote in message
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>>> "Julie Bove" > wrote in message
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>>>> "MaryL" -OUT-THE-LITTER> wrote in message
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>>>>>
>>>>> "Julie Bove" > wrote in message
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>>>>>> So apparently I've not been doing my food waste properly. I've been
>>>>>> putting spoiled produce (sometimes) in my yard waste. Sometimes
>>>>>> putting food down the garbage disposal (but not very often because
>>>>>> plumbers told me not to), and mainly throwing the food away. We just
>>>>>> threw out a LOT of it! It was either stuff I bought for my husband
>>>>>> that he didn't eat (and we can't or won't) or special stuff that I
>>>>>> mail ordered for Angela that went past its expiration date.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Seems I am supposed to put this stuff in my yard waste can as well.
>>>>>> When they made this change, I don't know. Seems I am supposed to
>>>>>> have a kitchen composter to put it in which needs to be emptied
>>>>>> daily. Says to put baking soda in the bottom for odors and vinegar in
>>>>>> the lid for fruit flies.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I know where to get one. The new Bartells (drugstore) around the
>>>>>> corner sells them.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Does anyone here have one? Are fruit flies a real problem? Seems
>>>>>> like they would be.
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> I don't have one, but I put most food waste in the freezer, then into
>>>>> the waste can for pickup the night before garbage collection. I also
>>>>> keep the garbage can in my garage, then wheel it out to the curb the
>>>>> night before pickup. I live in East Texas, and the heat here can
>>>>> quickly create a smelly (and insect-attracting) situation if waste is
>>>>> simply dumped into garbage cans outdoors.
>>>>
>>>> I am starting to worry now.
>>>>
>>>> Some time last year, my daughter came into the house all freaked out
>>>> because our garbage was all over. Something got into the cans. Opened
>>>> both cans and trash was strewn everywhere. This is why we got the
>>>> animal proof cans. Well our yard waste can is not animal proof. *sigh*
>>>>
>>>
>>> I'm a bit puzzled...that is, I can't picture how your yard waste can is
>>> any different now than before. Don't you place items from your kitchen
>>> composter into the same container as you previously used? If so, could
>>> you freeze things (as I do) and then put everything (bagged) into the
>>> waste can?
>>
>> I didn't have a kitchen composter before and I only placed yard waste in
>> my yard waste. I was putting food in the garbage can or down the sink.
>> Mostly in the garbage can because we have bad plumbing here and countless
>> plumbers told me it was best not to use the disposal.
>>
>> However, they changed the way we must dispose of things now. Food must
>> go in the yard waste in these biobags that are made of corn. It can not
>> go any place else.
>>>
>>> I had a problem with dogs getting into my waste can when I lived at my
>>> previous house and couldn't keept it in the garage. I solved that by
>>> putting stakes in the ground on both sides of the garbage can. These
>>> were stakes intended for dog tie-outs. They screwed into the ground and
>>> had a round "connecter" on the top. I used a bungee cord that I crossed
>>> over the garbage can and connected to each of the stakes. Somewhat
>>> awkward, but it solved the problem.
>>
>> I can't put food in the garage because of rats. And I can't put stakes
>> in the ground because I have black top where I keep the cans.
>>
>
> Okay, but what about my suggestion about using the freezer? That may not
> be practical for you if you have a lot of food waste and little freezer
> space, but it really works well for me. I put food that I am going to
> throw out in a bag in the freezer and then put it all out the night before
> garbage pickup. That pretty much eliminates odor, and that in turn means
> that it does not attract insects and other critters.

That's right. We have a lot of food waste and no freezer space at all.