DISPOSAL OF INFESTED ITEMS

When to dispose of furnishings or personal belongings will differ from individual to individual.  The item may be a family heirloom, gift, or of great value.  Disposing of the item may create a financial hardship or even tension within the household.  For these reason, it is recommended that you weigh the pros and cons of keeping an item versus disposing of it.

 

  • Does it require steam cleaning as is typically the case with upholstered furniture and carpets?
  • How long will it take to clean?
  • How much will it cost to clean?
  • Is a professional needed to clean the item?
  • How long will it take to get a replacement?
  • How much will a replacement cost?
 
These types of questions are what makes disposal a personal decision. If you do decide to dispose of a bed bug infested item, its good practice to dispose of it in a way that;
 
  1. You do not introduce the bed bugs to other areas of your home and;
  2. You make the item unappealing to someone else. 
 
Remember, one person's trash is another's treasure.  The last thing you want to happen is some unsuspecting neighbor taking the bed bug infested couch you recently placed on the curb for bulk trash pickup for use in their home.
 

If infested items are discarded they should be wrapped in plastic before disposal and labeled as:
"INFESTED WITH BED BUGS."

 

It is also good practice to destroy or deface the infested items to prevent others from unknowingly collecting and reusing them. Slash mattresses and plush furniture, break box spring frames, and label items with the words "bed bugs" to prevent the spread of bed bugs within the Gila River Indian Community.

 

Lastly, labeling your discarded furniture lets the Department of Public Works' personnel, who pick up bulk trash, know so that they can take extra care handling the item so they don't bring bed bugs into their home.