Every August the same text comes in: “Is it normal for my can to smell this bad?” Normal, yes. Unavoidable, no.
Heat is the problem
A closed can sitting in the sun is an oven. Once the inside hits 100°F, the bacteria that feed on food waste multiply about twice as fast as they do in spring. Every day the lid stays shut, the film on the bottom gets thicker and the smell gets worse.
The habit that makes it worse
Loose food. Meat trays, melon rinds and anything from the fridge clean-out that goes in without a bag leaves juice on the bottom of the can. The bag gets picked up on trash day. The juice does not.
What actually kills it
A garden hose moves the grime around and sends it into the gutter. Bleach on a hot day mostly makes bleach smell. What works is 200°F water under pressure, a sanitizer that kills 99.9% of the bacteria, and a deodorizer that does not just cover the smell. That is what we do at your curb the day after pickup.
Between cleanings: bag everything, keep the lid closed, and park the can in the shade if you can. It will not stop the smell, but it will slow it down.
