Keep garbage in sealed containers until it can be properly discarded. Be careful not to step on a yellow jacket when walking barefoot on lawns or other grassy areas. If a wasp lands on you, remain calm and wait for it to fly off or brush it off gently. Otherwise, you run the risk of threatening the wasp and experiencing a sting. Seek medical attention when the reaction to a sting includes swelling, itching, dizziness or shortness of breath.
Trapping is a direct control method.
Various commercial traps are available at garden centers and department stores. Bait can be used with these traps to increase the effectiveness of them by attracting more wasps. Another trapping option is to place a yellow pan filled with soapy water and sugar in an area where wasps are a problem. The sugar will attract the wasp and the soap will break the surface tension of the water. When the wasps land on the water, they will fall in and drown.