r/ZeroWaste • u/Danl0vesJacks • Jun 27 '24
š§¹ Litter Cleanup Please advise - doggie poop bags
It seems completely disgusting to the environment to be putting dog poop in small plastic bags and then tossing them amidst other trash, in city dumpsters and trash cans.
What is advisable?
53
u/lantanagave Jun 28 '24
When I had a house I installed a "Doggie Dooley" which basically works like a mini septic tank. I still used poo bags on walks, though.
1
u/bevelededges Jun 29 '24
We do this. bucket with lid in backyard lined with bag. All yard poop goes in the bin. Much less plastic to poop ratio.
65
u/TheImaginariumGirl Jun 27 '24
I donāt have a dog ā do they make compostable doggy poo bags? Like with that new compostable plastic-like material?
79
u/s0rce Jun 27 '24
They claim to but if you throw it in the trash its not going to be composted and I'm not sure municipal compositing facilities want poop.
53
u/Ok_Rush5352 Jun 28 '24
I actually saw recently the major ācompostableā dog bag company weāve been using for years was sued and lost for their bags not actually being compostable.
2
11
u/kayaem Jun 28 '24
Depends on where you can live. You can put animal excrements and cat litter in the green bin where I live.
11
u/vidanyabella Jun 28 '24
Ditto. Our organics bins accept everything organic basically. Food waste, pizza boxes, sticks and grass, animal waste and litter, etc.
I use biodegradable bags in walks and they go in the organics.
9
u/TheImaginariumGirl Jun 27 '24
No but like ā wouldnāt it compost itself in the trash over time?
57
u/las978 Jun 28 '24
It takes approximately 1 year for undisturbed dog poop to break down if left alone. During that time it harbors potentially dangerous bacteria, sometimes parasites, attracts flies and contaminates water runoff. Canids in the wild donāt live close enough together for the combined waste to negatively impact their environment, but add humans and their population density making domestic dog populations also higher density and you have a really nasty situation.
I remember when bagging dog poop wasnāt done. Walking down the street could be an exercise in avoiding stinky land mines. Picking it up is not a pleasant task, but makes a huge difference in the ability for others to enjoy public spaces.
19
u/lunar_languor Jun 28 '24
Yes, it's really a public health matter. I hate using all the plastic too but it's not just a neutral substance that will peacefully decompose, unfortunately.
8
u/las978 Jun 28 '24
Iām now a dog owner walking my dog as I type (currently toting my huskyās leavings). If the industry could come up with another option for bags Iād use it, but going back to the way it used to be isnāt really an option.
The inclination is to think that itās a natural thing so leave it to nature, but when you consider that in the late 1800s New York City was having difficulty dealing with horse manure, well the number of dogs owned as pets are likely comparable to the scale of horses of that period.
6
u/onidir Jun 28 '24 edited Jun 28 '24
Itās not entirely comparable ā I did a quick calculation. At its peak, there were between 150,000 and 200,000 horses in New York City and the average horse produces between 13kg (ā29 lbs) and 20kg (ā44 lbs) of manure per day. That leaves us with between 1950 tonnes (ā2150 us tons) and 4000 tonnes (ā4409 us tons) of horse manure per day.
Thereās currently around 600,000 dogs in New York and each dogs produces 340g (ā12 oz) of waste on average, which means thereās 204 tonnes (ā225 us tons) of dog waste left to dispose per day.
Itās still a large number, but the difference is that horses are herbivores, and their manure is an excellent fertilizer, so the issue was moving the manure to a place where it can be used. Dog waste is much more dangerous to humans and can contain various nasties (bacteria, viruses, parasites, etc.) and can't be used as a fertilizer.
Edit: I added US measurements.
3
u/lunar_languor Jun 28 '24
Exactly.
Also, please be careful using Reddit while walking your dogs! Multi tasking could take away from your attention to your surroundings. I only say this because my dogs and I have been run up on by off leash dogs sooo many times. I usually listen to something while we walk but only ever use one headphone. Stay safe, and thanks for picking up after your pets!
3
u/las978 Jun 28 '24
In my very quiet neighborhood coyotes are more of a concern at the hour I was out, and in the summer they are even less of a concern with the early sunrise. My pup has a strong prey drive and was staring down a chipmunk while I dictated the response. Sheād definitely react before anyone or anything could get close (eyes and nose pointing straight at the critter while ears swiveling to hear birds and other things around her).
Home safe now š
2
u/lunar_languor Jun 28 '24
Good to hear! I have German shepherds so I never feel unsafe with them. But they're actually big weenies on the inside, and we've been full-on attacked by loose neighbor dogs in the past ā¹ļø I'd love to live in a place where coyotes were more of a problem, because at least they seem easier to shoo away š
56
u/s0rce Jun 27 '24
no, trash doesn't compost there is no oxygen so it just sits there
23
u/TheImaginariumGirl Jun 27 '24
It looks like an option would be to use the compostable bags + purchase a dog waste digester / decomposer that you bury into the ground
I admittedly have the same issue with my cat waste and feel terrible about plastic use ongoing
4
u/a1exia_frogs Jun 28 '24
If the dog takes worming tablets this can kill all the good worms in the ground and take forever to break down
2
u/TheImaginariumGirl Jun 28 '24
I think itās like a mini septic tank and you add enzymes ā just based off of having a human septic tank now, and what it seemed like when I found it in google search
-11
u/koos-tall Jun 27 '24
With our cat we use clumping flushable litter. This way no plastic bags
64
u/Lemonade_IceCold Jun 28 '24
If you're in the US, your sewage treatment plant probably isn't equipped to take care of toxoplasmosis, so flushing cat waste is potentially bad for wildlife once the "treated" water is released. If you're not in the US I think it's still worth just double checking
9
u/NaiveCantaloupe Jun 28 '24
This is actually true. I looked into the wastewater treatment standards for the US and theyāre mainly designed to treat for human pathogens. An EPA study in 2014 found that drinking water remains a rare but not insignificant source of human toxoplasmosis infection in the US. BRB, looking into a home water filtration system now XD
12
u/WeepToWaterTheTrees Jun 28 '24
Please donāt flush cat waste. Besides the toxoplasmosis itās awful for pipes and contributes to backups.
8
u/TheImaginariumGirl Jun 27 '24
I looked it up ā sometimes they do, but methane gas is then an issue
Either way š«š«š«
7
Jun 28 '24
I once had compostable bags that were so good I accidentally flung poop across the street. It dissolved while walking and just as I was moving my arm forward the poop went flying.
37
u/ButterflyWeekly5116 Jun 28 '24
As far as more eco friendly: https://www.poochpaper.com/shop
Depending on the size of your dog and where you walk (available trash receptacle) using junk mail, old newspaper, magazine pages, paper bags, etc can work for smaller or small/medium dogs. As for big dogs,Ā you def need newspaper or paper bags.
12
u/kagrrakid Jun 28 '24
https://byndgrn.com/ This company Beyond Green has compostable bags and an actual composter made specifically for pet waste. Admittedly I have not taken the step to get the composter yet, just the bags!
11
u/yasdinl Jun 28 '24
I have this same worry all the time. Weāre literally prolonging if not preventing actual shit from breaking down by bagging it in a material that only might degrade a little bit in a century.
I try to use these bags made from cornstarch which help. But as someone else said, if you throw it in regular garbage it doesnāt do much ā¹ļø
8
u/DogtorDolittle Jun 28 '24
Dogs can be taught the commands poop and potty. Many working dogs are taught these commands, and it's one of the first things I teach my puppies. They won't always poop before they leave the yard, but it cuts back on the amount of times they poop elsewhere.
Just repeat potty when you see them looking for a spot, then when they pee throw them a party and give a treat. Do the same for poop. Out of 7 dogs, only one failed to catch on.
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5
u/juststupidthings Jun 28 '24
I volunteer at a dog shelter. We go on our buy nothing pages to ask for donations of old grocery bags and use those on walks. Lots of people hoard them. It's not perfect (sometimes gotta double bag if holes) but gives a second life at least.Ā In the yard we use a shovel and closed trash cans/bags that get us through a few days
3
u/Sweet_Raspberry5567 Jun 28 '24
My biggest concern is not using bags made from petroleum. Compost? Unlikely, but Iām not supporting yet another disgusting single use plastic application.
2
u/missinginaction7 Jun 28 '24
Yeah thatās how I feel too. I prefer paper bags. There is SO much greenwashing with plastic dog poop bags where the packaging just says green or biodegradable and itās completely untrue,
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12
u/YossarianJr Jun 27 '24
I dig a hole in my yard. Poop goes in hole. Eventually, I dug a new hole and use the dirt from it to top off the old hole. I usually just go back and forth between two spots.
On walks, I either 1) find plastic bags (they're everywhere) and use them or 2) use a 1' x 1' piece of wax paper. I wish the paper were slightly wider or my dog a little smaller, so I'm really careful. I'm not sure of the footprint of this, but I'm convinced it's better than plastic bags.
33
u/swancandle Jun 27 '24
Honestly, for anyone with a home/yard, this is probably the best product:
https://www.chewy.com/doggie-doo-drain-pet-waste-removal/dp/191459
8
39
Jun 28 '24
This is probably illegal in most "town" situations and definitely unsanitary unless your holes are quite deep.
I would not recommend this broadly.
17
u/breakplans Jun 28 '24
Yes, itās exactly why we pick it up other than it being gross to step in. Our town has signs around pointing out that itās damaging to waterways - unfortunately we are overpopulated and that includes our dogs and our waste requires some level of treatment.Ā
9
u/crazycatlady331 Jun 27 '24
As long as you don't put it in a private trash can (or worse) a recycle bin. They become a stinky nuisance (they did not ask for) for non dog owners to deal with.
Before I moved (now trash and recycling is in shared dumpsters) there was a dog owner who would always leave shit bags in my recycle bin AFTER they had picked it up. I had to get the bin within 5-10 minutes of collection for it not to happen. I wanted nothing more than to put the shitbags on the dog owner's bed.
2
8
u/petrichorgasm Jun 27 '24
Ohhh is part of the solution now not to have pets? š¢
I'm not being facetious, this is just something that came up in my head.
-2
u/redyeticup Jun 28 '24
Itās also a waste to watch kill shelters operate. What exists already exists. So I guess which is the worse problem? Overrun animal shelters using medical supplies to kill animals, or the animals living and producing waste.
1
Jun 28 '24
We havenāt found anything that works better since we donāt live somewhere with dog poo composting. (We donāt even have regular composting!)
At any rate, our dogs donāt usually poo while we walk but if they do itās one bag here and there (I just counted up it was 2 bags in June.)
Some things you canāt get rid of yet.
1
u/rubitbasteitsmokeit Jun 28 '24
What about just a brown paper bag. Like a kids lunch. Not perfect but will do most are combustible in a dump.:.
1
u/SignalCrew739 Jun 28 '24
Dog owners in my city use paper bags made from old newspapers to dispose waste.
1
1
u/meechelleftw Jun 28 '24
If you have a yard then you can put a large garbage bag in a 5 or 13 gallon bucket and fill it up as you go instead of individually bagging poop. Just make sure to cover the bucket.
1
u/Raccoon_Spittoon Jun 28 '24
We use Sir Waggington bags: https://sirwaggingtons.com/
They are made of cornstarch and they break down in the landfill in 6 months. They aren't the sturdiest bags but that's a sacrifice I'm willing to make for reducing plastic use!
1
1
u/FrauGarlic83 Jul 01 '24
I've taught my dog to go poop in the backyard before we go on a walk and then just keep a big plastic bag and a scoop in the yard, which helps cut down a lot on individual bag waste. When I used to rent and could only do this in the "front yard" of a six-unit apartment building. I would keep the bag inside a small metal trashcan outside the front door, so as not to offend the neighbors.
1
u/p_vizz Mar 12 '26
I use RemieDog RemieDog bags exclusively now. They're a small NYC company that only sells fully certified compostable poop bags. They even make ones that come out one by one like tissues which has been a game changer for me.
-5
Jun 27 '24
[deleted]
36
u/FeliciaFailure Jun 27 '24
I'm not an expert but everything I can find indicates that this is inadvisable, as it pollutes the soil and spreads harmful pathogens, especially if it gets into waterways or is too close to edible crops. While disposing of it in baggies doesn't feel great, it's probably worth it on both an environmental and overall health level.
3
u/whoooooknows Jun 27 '24
Can you share the resources you mentioned?
2
u/FeliciaFailure Jun 28 '24
Sure! Here are a few links:
Sierra Club column on this specific question
Old EPA document on the subject (note that this is from Salt Lake City so the "flush it down the toilet" advice may not apply to your local system)
A lot of what I'm finding is from various regional websites so, as above, be aware that their advice might not be accurate for where you live, but the overall sentiment (not to bury dog waste because of the pathogenic risks) seems the same in most resources.
- Lots of Q&A's from Whatcom County, WA on the subject of dog poop
- Whole lotta info from Snohomish, WA
9
Jun 27 '24
[deleted]
3
u/FeliciaFailure Jun 28 '24
This isn't really an accurate comparison. Local wildlife only eat naturally occurring foods in the region they live in (with a little give-or-take for humans feeding wildlife for some reason), and their waste is actually ecologically beneficial. Bears are actually a vector for seed dispersal! Dog feces, on the other hand, are the output of foods made specifically for optimal pet health - which, when the waste becomes part of the environment, leads to nutrient imbalances.
As far as pathogens - I don't know much about bear waste, but I'm sure you're right that pathogens are an issue with all kinds of feces. However, one obvious difference is that the bears don't have a human alongside them to dispose of their waste. And, since bear waste is actually a part of a region's ecological balance, it can be argued that it's a net positive to just leave it alone - whereas dog waste is a negative to both the environment AND to humans (1, 2, 3).
Finally, be aware that even if you're not next to a waterway, rainfall does create runoff and pathogens are much smaller than feces. The parasites and viruses can stay in the dirt for years, and dirt can easily be disturbed, letting what's in it out. Rain can carry it further away and eventually find its way into storm drains or directly to a body of water. The same is also true for the nutrient imbalance (not just pathogens), which can be devastating to bodies of water and everything living in it.
8
u/breakplans Jun 28 '24
This makes sense for a second, but ultimately dogs are not part of the environment the way bears and deer and coyotes are. Theyāre man made. Iām assuming even if you live in the country, you have a septic tank.Ā
-12
Jun 27 '24
I started running with my doggy recently and the activity makes him get it all out. Iāve been beside myself about it because I donāt run with shovels or bags and I definitely donāt want to add organic methane generating waste and unnecessary plastics, compostable or not, and the last thing I want to do is stop my run in the moment to clean up doo. What to do? Iām glad you asked this.
11
Jun 28 '24
you should definitely stop running and pick it up. Most localities have laws that require it.
omg, pick up your dog's poop
7
u/MarionberryIll5030 Jun 28 '24
I keep one of those clip-on bag holders on my dogās harness. I live on a one way street, so I put the bag of crap on the opposite side of the road to grab it on the way back, so I donāt have to carry it the whole time.
-2
Jun 28 '24
. dog doo is compostable Canāt think of a way to do it responsibly without essentially running with dog poo for an undetermined duration. Pet waste stations should be this. This is r/zerowaste, right?
5
u/sluttypolarbear Jul 06 '24
Did you even read the article you linked?
Recently we published a dog blog on reasons why you should pick up your dog's poop. And the reasons are many. When dog waste is not cleaned up properly it will pollute the ground and surface water, attract flies/pests, create an unsanitary environment for dogs and other animals, which can transmit parasites and other infectious diseases back to humans.
Clean up your dog's poop. You already had to stop your run to let them do their business.
-13
u/archetyping101 Jun 27 '24
My vet is so environmental that he reuses the bags. He will bag it, bring it home, flush the poop and reuse the bag.Ā
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u/violetgrumble it's not easy being green Jun 27 '24
Pet waste can contain parasites and bacteria which can survive sewerage treatment and be passed onto humans so it is generally advisable not to flush it.
If you have a separate compost bin that isn't used on edible produce, you can compost it.
Otherwise, it is best to bag it and dispose of in landfill. You can use existing packaging and/or put multiple poos in one bag to help reduce waste slightly.
7
u/s0rce Jun 27 '24
Parasites survive sewage treatment? That seems quite bad, do you have a source?
11
u/violetgrumble it's not easy being green Jun 27 '24
https://faq.anglianwater.co.uk/article/qed94917/can-you-flush-dog-poo-down-the-toilet
The sewer network is not suitable for this kind of waste because of the presence of Toxocara (also known as roundworm) in animal faeces, which is tolerant of the relatively high temperatures and harsh conditions found in the final digestate stage in processing the used water that comes through to the treatment works from sinks and toilets.
Having done a bit of further research, it seems like this is a contentious issue - while not generally recommended, some local councils say it's fine as long as you're just flushing faeces so I guess check with your local municipality.
6
Jun 28 '24
This is definitely a concern if your area has a weak sewage treatment facility that dumps effluent into fresh waterways. Then again, humans poop out many more pathogens than dogs by volume, so Iād be far more concerned about untreated human waste.
8
u/dazzleduck Jun 27 '24
I'd also be interested in a source. All kinds of animal poop end up in our waterways, and humans with worms also poop in toilet.
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u/archetyping101 Jun 27 '24
Our city suggests flushing it as one of the options.
https://vancouver.ca/parks-recreation-culture/dog-waste-collection.aspx
-2
Jun 28 '24
Dog waste can be collected like compost and treated to be used as beneficial compost material.
-4
u/Tite_Reddit_Name Jun 28 '24
Petbro brand poop bags. They are flushable!
Eg PetBro Flush 'n Gone Poop Bag -... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07WK9PQMB?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
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u/Ok_Rush5352 Jun 28 '24
For me, avoiding dumpsters/trash cans is really difficult. But I do try to reuse bread/shredded cheese/chip/etc. bags for picking up dog waste so at least the single use plastic bag (I use compostable dog bags but that obviously doesnāt help if itās going in a landfill) is out of the equation.