How Do I Store Garbage to Keep Rats Away?

CDC and EPA guidance is to use a thick plastic or metal can with no holes and a tight-fitting lid — rats gnaw through thin or cracked plastic and pry at loose lids, so lid fit and can integrity matter as much as the material. Where rats are active, bungee cords or weighted, lockable lids add real protection against a persistent animal.

Vector-control and extension guidance recommends keeping bins away from the structure, elevated off the ground, and clear of walls and vegetation that provide cover; food or cans left outdoors overnight should be in rat-proof covered metal containers. Regular pickup prevents the accumulation that lets a colony establish, and rinsing recyclables and cleaning bins removes the food residue and odor that draw rats in the first place.