HOW TO DISPOSE OF DOG WASTE THE GREEN WAY

As a responsible dog owner you already clean up after your dog, which is something everyone greatly appreciates. Not only does the act of removing your dog’s waste prevent others from smearing it all over their shoes, but it goes a long way toward protecting public health and making your community a nicer and cleaner place to live. Many of us already try to “go green” by reusing the plastic bags we get at the grocery store to dispose of dog poop. But what happens after you throw it away? Landfills become filled up with plastic bags containing dog waste, unable to degrade and causing damage to our planet as a result. We’re going to take a look at how to dispose of dog waste the green way, so you can feel confident that you’re doing everything in your power to return your dog’s waste to the earth.

Biodegradable Poop Bags

While biodegradable poop bags are not the perfect solution, they’re certainly a more environmentally friendly alternative to plastic grocery bags. Biodegradable pet waste bags are generally made out of a resin derived from plants, vegetable oils, and compostable polymers, which can break down completely in the right conditions.

Petfinder.com tells us more about why biodegradable poops bags are a much better option than reusable plastic bags:

“If you live in a city high-rise with no outdoor space, bagging the dog poop and putting it in a garbage can may be your greenest option. But instead of reusing plastic grocery bags, use biodegradable poop bags like BioBag for dog poop, and reusable shopping bags for shopping. Then no plastic bags are used. The dog poop will still end up in a landfill, but it at least has a shot at disintegrating.”

Flushing

While “flushable” waste bags do exist, they have been proven to not be 100% safe to flush down the toilet. While the act of scooping the poop directly into the toilet may not be incredibly convenient (or appealing), it’s certainly one of the most environmentally friendly methods of disposing of your pup’s waste.

The David Suzuki Foundation tells us more about why flushing your dog’s waste is one of the best ways to dispose of it the green way:

“Do not flush any baggies — not even biodegradable bags! Scoop the poop directly into the toilet, empty the bags or wrap it in toilet paper before sending it down the pipes. Compostable bags require the heat of a compost pile to break down. And beware of the word degradable (as opposed to biodegradable), which refers to formulated polythene. Polythene bags will fragment, not biodegrade, leaving tiny bits of plastic in the water. Even bags labelled “flushable” will clog plumbing or the city sewer. Never deposit dog poop down the storm sewer either, as these often flow to our waterways (e.g., creeks and streams). On a septic system? Check with the installer or manufacturer.”

Private Dog-Waste-Collection Services

Did you know that you can hire someone to come and collect your dog’s waste? These services will generally tell you exactly how they’re disposing of your pup’s poop, so you can feel confident that it’s being disposed of in an environmentally friendly way.

TheLabradorSite.com tells us more about this somewhat unusual service:

“This is a relatively new thing, so it isn’t available everywhere. But, new businesses are cropping up that offer a dog poop pick up and disposal service. This ranges from cleaning all dog poop from your garden, to providing dog poop bins, and even cleaning whole estates and parks. Many offer subscription services, and will visit as often as you need them. This is a great option if you hate picking up your dog’s poop, or live in an area where no one seems to clean after their dog. It also means you won’t have to worry about the best disposal method. They do all of this for you. Research online for dog poop pick up services in your local area if this interests you.”

We offer a wide variety of waste disposal options and can tell you exactly how to dispose of your dog’s waste, with services readily available online. Reach out to us to see what we can offer you.