Recyclers and composters “unimpressed” by rat report

According to a report from the National Pest Technician's Association, published yesterday, “recycling mania” has contributed to brown rat infestations increasing by 39% between 1998 and 2005. The report can be seen as a PDF at rat report.

”There is little evidence that fortnightly collections using wheeled bins are encouraging rats. “
– Jeff Cooper, Environment Agency policy manager However, the recycling and waste sector has hit back at the report, with experts saying they were “unimpressed” by its level of research and accuracy. Senior recycling figures have told letsrecycle.com that they see few signs of more rats being encouraged through fortnightly collections or greater use of compost bins.

The Association, which represents the pest control industry, warned that if the present UK trend continues, the rodent population could give rise to a “major public health risk”.

Writing in the document, researchers said: “The recycling mania now amongst us is creating a serious knock on problem.”

Big Brother's Lea Walker with WRAP's one millionth home composting bin in Trafalgar Square last year

They explained: “Firstly, most compost bins are being placed on “soft” ground, allowing rats to burrow into the bins from below. Secondly, many members of the public are not being instructed on what NOT to place in their compost bins.”

Advice

The NPTA researchers, who collated data from over fifty local authorities throughout the UK, advised that proper and correct advice from the manufacturers and suppliers of compost bins was a “must”.

They also said that municipal waste that was not properly protected also encouraged vermin – although it did not go into detail over how fortnightly refuse collections were to blame for this in particular.

The report said: “Household refuse stored within black plastic bags and overflowing wheelie bins causes another 24/7 source of rodent food.”

Fortnightly

Responding to the report, the Environment Agency said that fortnightly collections should not be causing an increase in the rat population.

Jeff Cooper, policy manager at the Environment Agency, told letsrecycle.com that there was “little evidence that fortnightly collections using wheeled bins were encouraging rats. There is no evidence of rats chewing through the bins to get to the inside.”

Mr Cooper agreed that bins may have even helped reduce the rat population because previously more household waste could have been accessible because it was kept in black sacks.

He added that there could sometimes be an issue with the intermediate storage of waste and recyclables “but there should not be material sitting there for long because of requirements under operational plans and the standards that apply to the site licences.”

With regard to compost bins, he said: “I think that the issue associated here is the type of material and conditions the bins are placed in. The bins themselves can provide you with a nicer environment but this can be for the rats as well.”

Mr Cooper noted that even traditional “open” composting at the bottom of the garden could also attract rats but also attracted other types of wildlife, such as hedgehogs.

Food waste

The issue of the type of material placed in compost bins was also taken up by the Composting Association in response to the report. Development director Jeremy Jacobs told letsrecycle.com that “as soon as you get any form of food waste, that will attract them (rats), partly because it is odorous.”

Mr Jacobs advised that if “any form of food waste” is to be incorporated then the bin should be vermin-proof. He said he advocated a “pragmatic” approach to the problem. “I think the biggest problem is that most people home compost badly. They just chuck it in at the top and expect a black gold to be produced.”

WRAP, which last year celebrated the giving out of one million home compost bins, has supplied virtually all its bins without bottoms and does not advise placing food waste apart from greens – such as apple cores – in the bin. However, the organisation says that if householders experience problems, it is advisable to fit mesh underneath.