BOSTON -- Residents in Boston's North Allston-Brighton neighborhood got new trash bins in an attempt to control rodents in the city.

In collaboration with Harvard University, the city provided every household in the neighborhood whose trash is collected by the city with a new, black, 64-gallon, rodent-proof trash container that will be used with a new automated trash collection system.

The new containers are an essential tool needed to help to eliminate rodents' primary food source, according to John Meaney, director of Boston's Environmental Services Division's Inspectional Services.

Residents also received an educational booklet in the mail with information about how to reduce rodent activity.