How To Dispose Of Freezer Full Of Rotten Meat? (Do This!)

It happens more often than many people realize. The reason could be a forced evacuation for a storm or wildfire. You may have been away on an extended vacation and the freezer failed. Whatever the reason facing a freezer full of rotten meat is no joy. How do you dispose of a freezer full of rotten meat?

If you intend to save your freezer, you can take steps to dispose of the rotten meat and clean the freezer. Disposing of rotten meat and cleaning a freezer is not a task to be undertaken lightly. Not only is it disagreeable, but it can also be dangerous. The spoiled meat and other foods can develop dangerous toxins requiring careful handling.

The first dilemma you face is what to do with all that rotten meat? A large chest type freezer can hold several hundred pounds of meat. An upright freezer can hold as much, and the freezer on most refrigerators will hold almost as much.

You should check with your local waste disposal department and ask their advice on disposing of the rotting meat. Some city managed landfills may not accept that much biological waste. You may be required to meet certain codes for the bagging of the rotten meat. Some municipalities have special areas of the landfill for disposing of large amounts of rotting food.

It is almost certain that the waste disposal organization doesn’t want you to put that much rotten food into your normal household trash containers. Your neighbors will probably appreciate you not setting a bin full of rotten meat on the curb for several days. In any event, you must package, store, and move the rotten mess.

If you manage to remove, package, and dispose of the rotten meat inside the freezer, what do you do with the appliance? If the freezer still operates, you may try and clean the freezer to eliminate the smell.

If the freezer doesn’t work any longer, you must dispose of the broken appliance. You can’t simply take the failed freezer to the landfill and tip it in. Refrigerators and freezers much have the hazardous refrigerant and oils removed before they can be trashed or recycled. Scavenging refrigerant requires a certified technician.

Many refrigerant removal shops won’t deal with appliances contaminated with rotten food. Some may perform the scavenging job at your home, but this can add a hefty cost to dealing with the old freezer. In any event, you still must transport the big bulky appliance to the recycler or the landfill.

You can almost guarantee that there will be after-effects to the task of removing a freezer full of rotten meat. Keeping the odor contained is almost impossible. If the freezer is in your house, the pungent and nauseating odor will permeate your home.

If the freezer is an upright model, not only will you have the problem of odor, but the liquids that accumulate are a problem. Working to remove the rotten meat will invariably cause spills and leas that can soak into flooring. It is almost impossible to remove the odors when this happens.

Professional bio mitigation companies handle these sorts of situations regularly. These companies have the training and the tools to minimize the effects on your home.

In most cases, the fee you pay will include removing the rotten food and your home’s appliance. The service should include preparing the freezer for transportation and recycling. Also, these companies have the products to clean your home, deodorize the air, and sanitize any spills or leaks that may occur.

The only downside to calling a professional bioremediation service is the cost. You may face a bill of several hundred dollars to be rid of the mess and the freezer. If you consider the task, it may not seem like much.

You may also have some help from your homeowner’s insurance policy. Some policies provide coverage for a situation where an outside event was the cause of the damage. Check with your insurance agent for advice on whether you can file a claim.

Before you attempt to remove the rotten food from the freezer, you need to prepare the area. You are going to have spills and leaks. Cover the floor around the freezer with plastic tarps. It is a good idea to continue this tarp strategy through the house and outside.

If you are dealing with a chest freezer, you have an advantage. As soon as you open the door of an upright freezer, the liquids will run out of the freezer. Prepare for this with lots of absorbent materials. Dispose of the absorbent material just like the spoiled food.

Bag everything in the freezer in high-quality plastic bags. Many professionals will double line a plastic trash can with heavy-duty contractor style plastic bags. Double bagging is a precaution against leaks and tears. The plastic trash can makes handling and lifting the bags of rotten meat easier and safer.

Remove any racks or shelves from the freezer. Take them outside. If they are to be cleaned and reused, begin the process by washing and sterilizing them thoroughly if the freezer is going away and bag these parts in plastic trash bags.

If you have decided to dispose of the freezer, now is the time. Strap or tape the door shut before attempting to move the freezer. An appliance dolly is the best alternative. You can rent an appliance dolly from moving companies and truck rental companies.

Transport the freezer to a recycling center that can safely remove the refrigerant and the compressor oils. Some recycling centers charge a small fee for this process. If there is no recycling center in your area, you may need to pay an appliance shop to take the old freezer for disposal.