RATS!

Boston has a rodent problem due to a combination of factors, including the city's age, infrastructure, and food waste. To address the issue, the city has released a Boston Rodent Action Plan. Check it out!

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Factors contributing to Boston's rodent problem

• Food waste: Food waste is a major driver of rat populations in urban areas 
• Infrastructure: Boston has old sewer systems, alleyways, and brick and cobblestone streets 
• Human behavior: Poor trash storage, removal, and mitigation contribute to the problem 
• Access to water: Rodents need water, and standing water sources are a favorite 
• Remove food sources: Remove debris piles and nesting sites 
• Seal entry points: Seal any outdoor entry points 
• Use traps, baits, and repellents: Use traps, baits, poisons, and repellents 
• Treat buildings: Treat buildings for rodents before construction, renovation, or conversion 

Actions to reduce the rodent population

• Limit access to water: Remove standing water sources, such as leaky hoses, irrigation lines, and pet water bowls 
• Remove food sources: Remove debris piles and nesting sites 
• Seal entry points: Seal any outdoor entry points 
• Use traps, baits, and repellents: Use traps, baits, poisons, and repellents 
• Treat buildings: Treat buildings for rodents before construction, renovation, or conversion
  
• Use Covered Bin: Never leave out trash in plastic bags - used covered bins
  

Free curbside food waste collection is here!

In August 2022, the city launched a free, curbside food waste collection service for residents!. To participate, residents must live in buildings with 6 units or less.  It's working to help mitigate rodents so Sign up today here!

KNOWLEDGEABLE: Please find out where your trash belongs/where your buildings’ bins are and let us know if you need help obtaining bins. DO NOT PUT YOUR TRASH OUT ANY OLD DAY OF THE WEEK! Trash is picked up on Monday and Thursday mornings -

RESPONSIBLE:  Please be considerate of your neighbors - your friends - and follow the rules for your building and general city rules. See below.

RELIABLE: Learn where your trash goes, follow the rules, and do it every week and we can then fight the increase in the rat population.
If you see something that needs fixing, like a missing sign, vandalism, or trash problem, 311 it! Download the 311 app on your phone to make it easier. Something stolen? 911 it! The way we get attention to problems in our area is to let the city know.

The Boston Rodent Action Plan (BRAP) is a new initiative to combat the rodent population in the city of Boston. 

The Environmental Sanitation Division recently got 275 rodent sensors to place around the city. These sensors will go in areas where rats have been a problem before. The goal is to create a network that helps the city find and fix rat issues faster, and over time, bring the rat population down.

Rodent sensors are small, smart devices that can tell when rats are nearby. They’re usually placed along walls or near food, and they work by sensing motion, heat, or sound. These sensors are changing how we deal with rats by helping us take action before the problem gets worse:

• Instant alerts: The sensors send a message right away when they spot rat activity
• Helpful data: They collect information about where and when rats are active, so we can predict where problems might happen next
• Safe tracking: The sensors don’t use poison or bait, which makes them safer for kids, pets, and wildlife
• Remote monitoring: Teams can check the sensors using apps or computer dashboards, so they can act quickly
  

You can reduce your trash by nearly 36% when you recycle.
Boston provides mixed curbside recycling pickup services for residents. If we recycle right we can reduce waste by 40 percent in Boston. The city has a neat app that you can download to your phone www.boston.gov/departments/public-works/recycling-boston

Composting in Boston—Sign up, it’s free, and JUST DO IT!
Boston has a highly user-friendly composting program for households in buildings with 6 or fewer units.  Well-sealed counter-sized buckets and an outside bin are provided after you sign up. Presto—you are up and running. Pop every food item that you would normally put in the trash in the counter bucket, and put the contents in the outside bin for pick-up on Monday mornings. It really couldn’t be easier.
The real kicker are the benefits that come from this simple practice.

1. Combat rats in your street/alley (composting is one of the most effective actions you can take)
2. Help Boston control a burgeoning landfill crisis that is raising our taxes
3. Keep your kitchen neater and cleaner
4. Feel the glow from doing the right thing with close-to-no effort

Sign up at https://www.boston.gov/departments/public-works/curbside-food-waste-collection
Questions? The website answers many. The organization that runs the program (garbagetogarden) is very responsive to phone calls and emails.

• Phone: 617-977-4547
• Email: [email protected]   
  

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Trash Rules
ALL TRASH MUST BE PLACED IN A CONTAINER
WITH A LID.
All trash must fit inside the barrels and have a lid. Having an overflowing barrel or unkempt trash can result in a code enforcement violation. Your landlord or your HOA should provide a large rolling bin or dumpster large enough to hold all trash. Bags, grocery bags, or cardboard boxes can not be used as trash bags.

DISPOSE OF TRASH AND RECYCLING PROPERLY behind your own property and not behind properties nearby. (This is a code violation to dump illegally)  Contact your Landlord/Building Management to find out where your trash should go. If you need help don’t hesitate to contact us.

FREE BLUE RECYCLING BINS AND SMALL GREEN FOOD WASTE BINS are available for your building – all you have to do is ask for one - please call 311 or 617-635-4500. For more information go to Boston.gov's trash/recycling page

TRASH COLLECTION DAYS ARE MONDAY AND THURSDAY Put out covered bins after 5 pm the evening before or before 6:30 am on collection day.

ZERO Waste TIPS click on the picture !