No Way José...with HOTBIN!

Is HOTBIN Composter Suitable to deal with Rats?
Let me start with the bottom line and provide a short answer… YES, the HOTBIN is suitable to deal with rats!

If the area/location is already infected with rats, you will need to eradicate them first before placing a HOTBIN in this area. However, if the area is not infected, following some suggested practices will avoid rats and vermin from coming to the area.

I already have rats - Will I be able to use the HOTBIN?
If you already have an infestation of rats in your compost heap or garden, replacing the old compost bin with a HOTBIN in the same location is high risk. You are taking away the easy food source (old compost heap) and just replacing it with food behind a closed door.

The rats are going to get desperate and seek a way through the door and they will be highly aggressive in finding food once starving.
If You Already Have Rats, we recommend to:

1. Remove the old heap/bin and all food waste.
2. Encourage the rats to leave the area first by ceasing all composting for 2-3 months.
3. For serious infestations (especially in urban areas) get the professionals in to trap and remove them first, before you place a HOTBIN in the same area/location.
4. If you have a rat infestation, when setting up your HOTBIN, you need to add extra protection: wrap 1cm square chicken wire mesh around your HOTBIN to protect it.
5. Once the infestation has been cleared, a correctly operated HOTBIN will not attract rats.

Prevent rats/vermin infestations when setting up your HOTBIN:

1. Locate your HOTBIN on a hard surface - Place it on flagstones to avoid rats burying underneath and using it for a nesting site.
2. Do not rest the HOTBIN on 4-small flag stones/bricks at the corners as this will just make it even easier for the rats to create a nesting site underneath.
   
   We recommend that you buy and use a HOTBIN plinth to procure a flat surface beneath your composter.
   
3. Keep the hatch door panel tightly closed when feeding the composter with new waste - Hot odors rise and can escape around the door hatch or lid panel while the HOTBIN new waste is being added to the composter. Be sure to wipe around the edges of the opening and hatch to ensure no loose pieces of waste are left in the joints. Even small pieces of waste will create a weak spot as the door will not seal correctly. This weak spot could be attacked.
4. Take extra care when filling the HOTBIN for the first time – Loose waste in the base tends to flow to the door and put more pressure on the door ‘pop seal’ that moist compost formed after a few weeks of use. The door joint has a tolerance and will open by a few mm under very high fill rates.
5. It is very important you use the cam straps supplied with the HOTBIN (1-Minis, and 2-Mk2s) to pull the door tightly closed before filling. You should not be able to see any waste through any gaps around the door panel.
6. Always clean up - Always ensure no food waste is left around the base or lid of the HOTBIN, this is a free takeaway and will attract rats.
7. Look after your HOTBIN - Repair any damage to the HOTBIN.