Have you ever thought about what happens to your pet’s waste after you dispose of it every day? If you answered no, that is probably a normal response. Let’s be honest, this is kind of a gross subject! However, our pets are important members of our families and it is important to do our best to minimize their “paw print” on our earth.
Using a plastic bag to clean up after your morning walk or your litter box might leave your yard clean and your house smelling a little more fresh, but that plastic bag has just become a part of your local landfill for a very long time, as plastic is very slow to biodegrade. If you are using more eco-friendly clean-up bags for your morning walks, the waste is still ending up in landfills and have the potential to reach our waterways. The same problem can occur with pet waste left in the yard or on the sidewalk. The rain carries it to our storm drains, which ultimately leads to our local lakes, rivers and waterways. In addition to harming the marine wildlife, dangerous bacteria and pathogens can end up in our drinking water.
If you are ready to handle the challenge, it is possible to compost your four-legged companion’s fecal material. This requires money, time and attention to detail. While I want to encourage any steps you can take to make the world a better place, you have to do the research and take precautions when doing this as you will be dealing with materials that are potentially dangerous. For more information on the dangerous pathogens, you can visit www.cdc.gov/healthypets.
Let’s start with an easy solution - flush it! The pet waste will be treated the same as human waste, which is much safer for your family and our environment. Make sure you buy products that are clearly labeled safe to flush. There are flushable poop bags for your daily walks and eco-friendly, flushable cat litter, too! You can also separate what your kitty left behind from the litter when flushing to ensure your pipes do not get clogged.
-Beth Swanson
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