If you own a dog, you should always wear gloves when handling dog poop. If you can, you should pick up solid pieces with paper towels or a plastic bag and dispose of them immediately. However, some people prefer flushing the poop down the toilet because paper towels can clog toilets. To avoid this issue, you can compost the poop, which is also an alternative to flushing.
Disposing of dog poop
You can choose the best place to dispose of dog poop. The easiest place to dump it is in your backyard, but you must be very careful not to spread it on grass. Even if you choose to place it on the ground, it can take a year for the poop to decompose fully. The nitrogen in dog waste is harmful to the surrounding grass, and this can burn the plants nearby. In addition to this, dog poop can contain diseases and parasites that can affect people. Ancylostoma is one such disease that can be dangerous to your pets.
If left in the street or yard, dog poop can pollute water sources, causing disease. Animal waste often ends up in lakes and rivers, and storm runoff is rarely treated. This is why it is important to properly dispose of dog poop. You also need to take note of the sanitary conditions of the landfills in your area. The temperature in the compost pile must be at least 145 degrees Fahrenheit for a few days.
Alternatives to flushing
Flushing dog poop through the toilet is not recommended for sanitary reasons. This is because it may cause clogging in pipes and interfere with wastewater treatment. It is also unnecessary to flush sanitary items. Using a biodegradable bag for dog waste can be an alternative. They break down in landfills and septic systems. Using a biodegradable bag is the most environmentally friendly way to dispose of dog waste.
While standard plastic bags will not dissolve in water and will clog the plumbing, you can purchase special flushable dog poop bags that dissolve in water. These are made from polyvinyl-alcohol, the same substance that is used in washing machine capsules. However, some of these bags may not dissolve quickly enough, resulting in clogged pipes and other problems with waste processing. You can also avoid flushing dog poop altogether by training your dog to only pee in one location.
Composting
You can compost dog poop as a natural fertilizer. Firstly, collect the dog poop in a bin at least three feet by three feet. The compost bin should be out of the way and not in a place where water could get into it. The compost pile should also be out of reach of children. In addition, you should mix a mixture of dry and wet materials. Wet materials are those containing more nitrogen and dry materials are those that contain more carbon. Mix the two in a ratio of two parts dog poop to one part sawdust.
Composting dog poop can be as easy as composting other garden debris. It can reduce the amount of trash on the street by a great deal. Nevertheless, the quality of the finished compost should be of a high standard. Moreover, it should not contain dangerous parasites that may harm humans or pets. Therefore, you should wash your hands thoroughly after handling the compost pile and wear rubber gloves to prevent contamination.
Burying
Burying dog poop is a fast and easy way to dispose of the mess left behind by your pup. However, it does require a little extra care, since it is prone to spreading. You might end up with a big surprise when you mow your lawn and find the smell of fresh dog poop. Unless you are going for a DIY project, pick up the dog poop before you start the work.
The process of burying dog feces is similar to composting it. Just make sure to dig a hole that is at least 12 inches deep to prevent the contaminated poo from settling on the surface and contaminating nearby water sources. Make sure you avoid burying your dog poop if you want to avoid soil contamination and keep the dog’s poop away from water sources and gardens.
