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Lithium batteries have caused fires in the rubbish lorries. Please do not put batteries in your waste or recycling bin. All batteries (including lithium batteries from e-bikes and e-scooters and other re-chargeable devices) can be taken to the Reuse and Recycling Centre at Northumberland Wharf.

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Pharaoh ants

Close up of a pharoah ant

Photo credit: Pests Ants by British_Pest_Control_Association is licensed under CC BY 2.0

How do you identify pharaoh ants?

Pharaoh ants are:

  • yellow-brown in colour
  • 1/10 inch (2 mm) in size
  • found near warm areas and water sources

If they are dark brown to black in colour, they could be black ants.

What brings pharoah ants into your home?

Left out food can draw large numbers of ants. Meat and dairy products attract them strongly. 

How do you stop them coming into your home?

Keep food and left-overs in secure containers. 

Put your food waste (such as vegetable peelings) in the bin straight away. 

How can you get rid of them?

These pests are very difficult to get rid of by yourself. 

We can lay poison bait and also treat the ants with a chemical. This stops the queens from laying eggs that will hatch into more ants.  

We will make any follow-up visits needed to make sure your home is clear. It usually takes 3 visits to get rid of them.