Towns with totes see complaint decrease
by JESSICA L. FINCH Amherst Associate Editor

In the fight against rats, totes work.

Erie County Senior Public Health Sanitarian, Peter J. Tripi, said the towns and villages that use garbage totes have recorded a decrease in rodent complaints.

(See editorial on page four)

"Operation Clean Sweep," the rodent control program launched by the county to address the growing number of rodent complaints, recently released the total rodent responses for 2007.

The Village of Kenmore and Town of Tonawanda were the first suburbs to begin using the totes in the summer of 2006 and saw a 58 percent decrease in the first six months.

From 2006 to 2007, Tonawanda complaints decreased from 1,435 to 534 - 62 percent.

"The totes have been able to bring the numbers to a controllable level," Tripi said.

The Town of Amherst and Village of Williamsville distributed their totes in the spring and summer of 2007 and have already reported a decrease.

Tripi said from 2006 to 2007 there was a 4.5 percent decrease, from 734 to 701. Private exterminators also reported decreases, from 588 to 529 calls.

"If everything holds true, we'll see a significant decrease," Tripi said about Amherst numbers reflecting Tonawanda's.

On the opposite side of the story, Cheektowaga reported an increase. The town has not purchased totes.

Tripi said the increase was 3.2 percent, from 1,455 to 1,501 complaints. He said he has been working with Cheektowaga officials, encouraging improved rodent control programs.

Cheektowaga currently requires all garbage to be stored in cans with lids, but on trash day the cans are allowed to be placed at the curb without lids.

County and New York State laws require garbage be stored in covered containers at all times, including "pending collection."

The county has tracked complaints on maps, using red dots to locate a complaint, which shows a shift from Tonawanda to the most dense areas in Cheektowaga.

"Cheektowaga was hit really hard. There were 1,501 rat-only complaints in 2007; that's a lot," he said.

Towns that have totes need to ensure they are being used properly.

Tripi said overflowing and uncovered bins aren't going to solve the rodent problem because that supplies a food source. When food sources are eliminated, the rats are forced to eat the bait, which is fatal. The bait is managed by the county.

"If residents don't use the totes correctly, it's a waste of money," he said, adding that the lids have to be closed because birds could rip open a hole or the rat could jump or climb in from the top.

He said the type of rat in West- ern New York is domesticated and needs humans for food and shelter - basically to live.

Tripi said Buffalo has always dealt with rat issues, but in 2001 the problem grew and the city responded with its purchase of totes. In doing so, the city shut off the food supply, and the rats migrated to the first-ring suburbs - Tonawanda, Amherst, Cheektowaga and Lackawanna.

Within six months of Buffalo distributing totes the change was noticeable, he said, adding that the numbers gradually increased over the years.

"We started to see the numbers increase in the suburbs. No one wanted to admit to having a problem," he said. "Kenmore started it, and then it was not a big deal to admit it."

Tripi said the problem will never go away entirely, but the county is starting to see more manageable numbers.

"The totes knock down the population," he said. "They are a short- and long-term solution."

He added that towns implementing a tote program will see an initial increase because the rats are panicking, but then the numbers drop greatly.

Residential properties are not the only problem. The county recently completed a Dumpster blitz in Amherst, focusing on the southwest portion of the town, including the Village of Williamsville.

"We found a significant number of businesses not in compliance," he said.

Of the 760 locations reviewed, 140 were given violation notices for open or overflowing Dumpsters.

"No one wants to live near a Dumpster that's overflowing," he said, adding that businesses are given a warning.

The county follows up at least two more times to verify if the business is complying. He said the goal is to educate on garbage control.

On the second blitz, 19 of the 140 were fined for failing to comply. Businesses could face a fine of $500 per day that they fail to comply.

Blitzes were also done on Hertel Avenue and Niagara Falls Boulevard, including Tonawanda.

In Tonawanda, more than 800 locations were blitzed. The number of locations put on notice was less than expected.

"We have to get tough; these programs cost a lot of money," he said. "If we invest we will see success. We know that the program works."

The county vector control program started in 2001 and will bait residential property for free. To report a rodent complaint in Buffalo/ Tonawanda, call 961-6800; for Amherst, call 683-6487.