Rat Prevention Initiatives in Dense Residential Areas
Status: In Progress
Original Proposal
This proposal aims to tackle rodent infestations in identified hotspots by improving waste management practices and reducing food access for rats.
By investing in rodent-proof waste storage solutions in high-density residential areas, food sources for rodents can be limited where they are most problematic. The City will use sensor technology to monitor the effectiveness of these upgrades and expand successful solutions.
This initiative supports the newly launched Boston Rodent Action Plan, which aims to reduce the rodent population and improve residents' quality of life.
Budget Breakdown
Total Budget: $500,000
Spent/Committed:
Remaining: $500,000
Status Update
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Container Installation:
In mid-May, collaboration among the Inspectional Services Department, Public Works, and the Boston Housing Authority (BHA) worked with the containerization vendor, metroSTOR, to install the two containers (1x trash and 1x recycle), for the resident trial period at BHA Commonwealth. -
New Haulage Service:
On May 20th, the new haulage vendor, Republic, commenced their commercial collection, providing regular pickup and maintaining a clean, rodent-controlled environment during the initial 3-month trial, with potential extension. The PWD team have been instrumental in securing this new required front-loading commercial service, best suited for the innovative design of the bins, as opposed to the standard haulage that services the majority of BHA’s rear-loading open-top dumpsters. -
Design Enhancements:
As part of the final design and installation process, BHA and metroSTOR will identify any potential enhancements that could be made to the “as-built” containers. Immediately following installation, the team decided to provide an additional component to the door handle on both units to ensure the mechanism will be permanently easily operable over the long-term.
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Positive Outcomes:
The space has remained clean, attributed to the proactive planning and collaboration amongst the BHA residents, site staff, and PWD’s commercial hauling service. Regular communication with the head of maintenance and a resident task force indicates smooth progress. -
Next Steps:
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The Inspectional Services Department will present at the next Commonwealth Tenant Association (CTA) aka “resident task force” meeting where residents share feedback.
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Use resident input to determine necessary design modifications.
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Pending feedback, begin rolling out additional containers at the end of summer and/or fall, pending the level of improvements required for metroSTOR’s engineering design team.
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Collect and display signage created by OPB and Public Works for the trash and recycle containers.
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Implementation and Impact
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The Inspectional Services Department, Public Works, and the Boston Housing Authority (BHA) will expand a successful rat prevention pilot from Charlestown to two BHA’s developments in Brighton, one of the neighborhoods most impacted by rodents.
The program will try to mitigate rodent activity by:
- Upgrading existing residential trash collection service to commercial level service;
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Installing metroSTOR trash, recycling and compost bins;
- Providing in unit trash, recycling compost containers, and education for 665 units; and,
- Buying and installing MicroShare Sensors to test the effectiveness of this pilot.
In August of 2025, the Boston Housing Authority released a public bid for Rodent-Proof Containerization for Trash, Recycling, and Compost:
Read the Bid - Project implementation is set to begin in the Summer of 2026.
