What’s grosser than seeing a stray dog poop strewn along the middle of a footpath? … A single dog poop in a plastic bag, littered on the ground. That’s what! Sure, it’s not as viscerally nauseating as seeing a breadcrumb trail of poop in your direct path. However, from a moral perspective, it’s vomit-worthy. Why would someone even bother picking up poop in a plastic bag, only to leave it on the ground anyway? If anything, that’s even worse than just leaving the poop there. Plastic takes hundreds of years to break down, and even when it finally does, it winds up as microplastics that continue to pollute the earth. At least dog poop only takes a few months to disappear.
Suffice to say, leaving dog poop lying on the ground in a single-use plastic? Literally the most environmentally-unfriendly way to dispose of your pup’s waste. Leaving it on the ground isn’t much better. That doesn’t even count as disposing of because the dog owner has done nothing to remove the poop. If anything, it’s the dog disposing of the waste because at least they were active in the process.
As responsible dog owners, we need to not only pick up our dogs’ waste but dispose of it thoughtfully. At a bare minimum, that means throwing that plastic-engulfed turd in the bin. But what are the most environmentally-friendly ways to get rid of doggy waste? Read on to find out.
Pick it up and (compost) BIN IT using a biodegradable poop bag
Biodegradable poop bags are a superior alternative to single-use plastic bags. In terms of biodegradability, different brands may have different claims or levels of reliability. However, you can count on Stylish Hound to put their money where their mouth is. Stylish Hound’s biodegradable poop bags are made from corn starch instead of plastic. Pop them in your home compost bin and they will decompose within three months. These bags make picking up poop as pretty a process as possible. They’re available in four eye-catching designs! We recommend grabbing a 60-pack, but they also come in packs of 15, 30, 120, and 240.
Seriously: compost it!
But heed caution! Dog poop is compostable but not in the way you might think. It’s a useless—and even harmful—fertiliser. Confused? The explanation is simple. Dog poop is composed of protein, nitrogen, and phosphorus. If you’re not a scientist, this means that it’s extremely acidic—acidic enough to burn plants. Its bacterial composition is also incompatible with the garden. It can contaminate produce and, in extreme cases, throw ecosystems off balance.
So, why are we telling you it’s compostable? That’s because it is—provided you keep it separate from your regular compost pile. Are we advocating for a separate dog poop mountain in your backyard? You bet we are! It’s not as bad as it sounds, though. Dog poop compost bins are gaining traction on the market, and they’re smell-proof. They’re also easy to keep out of sight and—most importantly—separate from your regular compost bin. If shit happens whilst you’re out walking, this may not be the most practical solution. But even if you just use it for backyard poops, Mother Earth will thank you for sending slightly less stuff to landfill.
Turn it into fertiliser
Yes, we just said that dog poop doesn’t make good fertiliser—but that’s in its raw form. If we’re taking Reduce, Reuse, Recycle to extremes, then a pet waste digester is in order. What’s this? Well, it’s a mini septic system that treats the pet waste with bacteria- and enzyme-infused liquid. You will need a decent-sized backyard to operate one of these, though. Bury your pet food digester far away from your garden. Pop in the poop with some water, and the digester will do the rest of the work, filtering it into the ground. Once it’s set up—and if you have the space—this method is quicker than burying the poop. It’s definitely the most environmentally-friendly way to dispose of your pup’s waste, too!
The best poop management strategies for you
Using a pet waste digester may be the most environmentally-friendly way to dispose of your pup’s waste, but this is not possible for everyone. You would need a fair-sized backyard to make this work. You would also need to set it up within decent clearance of any gardens. You might not want to bother setting up your own backyard septic system, and we wouldn’t blame anyone for that, either.
The bottom line is that, so long as you’re doing your best with the hand you’ve been dealt, you’re doing okay. Make small improvements to have a bigger impact over time. Even if you’re switching from single-use plastic bags to biodegradable poop bags, you’re doing your part to reduce your carbon pawprint.
If you do have the space, we would encourage you to try the home composting or fertilising strategies. This would mean less litter in landfill, reducing the strain on Mother Earth. Puppy steps, though. We encourage you to think of ways you could implement some of these tips in the future. There are also so many eco-friendly dog accessories out there you can buy to further preserve the environment.
