While a trash service removes the bags and garbage from your bin once a week, some remnants may stick to the bottom of the can. This allows bacteria and viruses to grow in the hot, dark can, potentially spreading to you and causing illness. However, you can avoid getting sick with regular trash bin cleaning, as a professional service will disinfect the can and remove any debris. Below are several microorganisms that may be present.

What Kinds of Bacteria Can Live in a Trash Bin?

1. Salmonella

This bacteria is often present in raw eggs and poultry. When you throw away eggshells or chicken scraps, the liquids from the items may seep out of your trash bag and into the bin. Salmonella is especially hardy, and if you ingest it or touch it without washing your hands, it may cause diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever.

2. E.Coli

While E.Coli generally comes from raw meat, milk, and contaminated vegetables, it may also be present in the feces of animals that eat raw food. This is how it spreads, as it survives the digestion process. It is often present in trash bins when you throw away raw scraps or pet waste, and can be transferred to you when using the bin. If you are infected with this bacteria, you may experience diarrhea, vomiting, and cramps.

3. Listeria

Listeria usually comes from soil and animal feces, so it is often in doggy bags and cat litter. It may be even more common in bins that you use for yard waste, especially if you landscape the property after recent rainfall. If you have a garden, raw vegetable scraps that have not been cleaned may also have traces of this bacteria, and infection can lead to fever and diarrhea.

4. Viruses

While the cold and flu viruses aren’t technically bacteria, you can still find these microorganisms in trash. Unlike bacteria, these viruses can easily spread through any object that a sick person touches. Often, used tissues and medicine containers are the most common homes for these viruses, allowing them to spread to anyone who touches the bin.

Trash bin cleaning can remove these microorganisms from your containers, and if you want to schedule this service, contact Mrs. Clean in Kansas City, MO. These professional cleaners offer pressure washing, sanitizing, and deodorizing. The team comes to your home after your trash pickup and completes the service on-site. Visit them online for more information about how they can help. Call (800) 783-2467 to schedule trash bin cleaning.