Pooper Scooper week!

Yep it’s time again for one of those lesser known holiday weeks, did you know it’s National Pooper Scooper week? Most dog owners are responsible enough to know that they have to clean up after their pets and scoop the poop (it’s the law in most areas), but what’s an eco-friendly pet owner to do when faced with pet waste in their quest to stay green? Here are a few tips

Biodegradable poop bags
There are some companies now that are selling bags that are biodegradable or compostable. Whilst these are a great addition to the eco-friendly pet owners accessories remember that these won’t help if you are sending the poop to an “anaerobic” or “locked” landfill. These bags work great for “open” or “turned” landfills and compost piles. Because of the nature of the locked landfills no air can get to the bags and they won’t biodegrade so first find out what kind of landfill your waste goes to before deciding if these biodegradable bags are suitable for your needs.

Flushing
The Environment Protection Agency reports that

Pet waste can be a major source of bacteria and excess nutrients in local waters. When walking your pet, remember to pick up the waste and dispose of it properly. Flushing pet waste is the best disposal method. Leaving pet waste on the ground increases public health risks by allowing harmful bacteria and nutrients to wash into the storm drain and eventually into local waterbodies.

Education is essential to changing people’s behavior. Signs and markers near storm drains warn residents that pollutants entering the drains will be carried untreated into a local waterbody.

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Some bags report that they are flushable so check your bags are suitable for flushing before putting them in the sewer system. Another thing would be to check your local resources (water bureau) as some water treatment facilities don’t allow pet waste flushing. Also if your sewer system is a septic tank it is also not advisable as the septic systems.

Reuse
Sometimes plastic waste is unavoidable, and that means ending up with plastic bags, whether that is used bags from groceries, produce, or perhaps plastic baggies from shipping. For example our local free paper comes in a plastic bag in the winter to avoid it getting wet, some of our produce we buy comes in plastic bags, and liners from some grocery cartons are plastic. See what plastic bag waste you have in a given week and decide if any can be reused for pet waste.

Compost
Putting pet waste into household compost piles is a tricky thing. The current thinking is that home compost piles do not generate enough heat to kill all the pathogens in pet waste, plus if you have pet waste in your compost pile you shouldn’t use the compost on or near your vegetable plants. There are some specific in ground compost bins for pet waste which you add enzymes to, the verdict is out on the safety of these composters and there is supporting evidence for and against pet composters. If we had enough space in our garden for one (away from ground water and food crops) I think we’d at least try it, though it seems almost all the pet composters are made from plastic which almost defeats the point.

Scoop
Bags are often a necessity when walking your dog, but maybe you have a yard dog that doesn’t get outside walks often? Maybe it’s better to invest in a scoop and deposit the poop directly in your trash can. As always try and purchase sustainable products, maybe a scoop made from metal or one made from recycled post consumer content.

dalgal | My Bio & Articles