Bag it and bin it
Most dog owners collect their dog waste in plastic bags then dispose of it in the nearest bin. This is great – it gets it off the street. But what happens to the waste once it leaves the bin?
Well, some of the bags end up buried in a landfill site where they and their contents will remain for many years – plastic bags can take hundreds of years to degrade. Increasingly, municipal waste is being incinerated in waste-to-energy plants, which is more eco-friendly than landfill but still controversial.
If the dog waste is going into a household bin this can cause a problem, as it will start to ferment in the plastic bag. Many councils now only collect refuse bins on alternate weeks, so the dog poop could potentially be sitting festering in the bin for up to two weeks.
Hopefully in time there will be more schemes using small scale anaerobic digesters to produce energy from organic wastes, like the dog-poop-powered street lamp in this article which will run for 2 hours on 10 bags of dog waste.
But in the meantime most of us just have to bag and bin our dogs poop. So, which bags should we be using?
Its a confusing mix of degradable, biodegradable, corn starch, oxo-biodegradable, exo-biodegradable – the list goes on…… and theres no such thing as an eco-friendly bag of dog poop, no matter what the bags made of!
There is no definitive answer. Amongst other things, it depends where its going to end up. Your local authoritys web site should tell you if they are using landfill or incineration.
If your knotted bag of poop is going to landfill, it needs to be in an oxo-biodegradable bag with no added corn starch or other plant materials. Oxo-biodegradable plastic fragments then biodegrades to CO2 and water in landfill while there is oxygen present, then becomes inert when conditions are anaerobic (more detailed info here). For example, see *Pogis Poop Bags.
Bags containing corn starch or other biodegradable plant based materials continue to break down in anaerobic conditions in landfill, producing methane which is much more powerful as a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide.
If its going for incineration, theres more of a choice. You could re-use any plastic bags – bread bags, frozen food bags, carrier bags – at least you know if youve filled them with poop and sent them off for incineration, they arent going to end up as litter or in the ocean!
Alternatively, we need to support the companies who are trying to do right by the planet, so this is a good time to cut the plastic and use those plant based eco-friendly bags. Read the box though – a lot of them arent as planet friendly as they make out. Check if they tell you which environmental standards they comply with. They should at least say they are certified to EN 13432 (EU) and/or ASTM D6400 (USA). For example, see *TSP Premium Poop Bags, Pet N Pet, and *My AlphaPet.
When you dispose of dog or cat waste at home in the UK, most Local Councils say it should go in the bin with your general household waste. Some ask for poop to be double wrapped to protect their workers and also to prevent smells. They suggest picking up the poop in plastic bags and collecting it all in a small bin lined with a larger bag such as a supermarket carrier bag.
You can now get flushable bags, so dog mess can simply be put down the toilet and flushed away off to the sewage plant to be treated.
These are made of Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA), a water-soluble alternative to regular plastic. The manufacturers say the bags break down quickly and harmlessly in the water. PVA does dissolve over time in water and is then broken down by bacteria into carbon dioxide and water. The bags are also certified as compostable, but only in industrial composting facilities that accept pet waste.
The US Environmental Protection Agency say on their website:
“Pet waste can be a major source of bacteria and excess nutrients in local waters. . . 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 water bodies.”
If you intend to flush dog poop on a regular basis its worth checking with the water authority in your area as not all sewage treatment works are the same.
Never flush cat waste as this may carry toxoplasma gondii, a parasite which is not removed by sewage treatment and is thought to be infecting river and marine mammals including sea otters, beluga whales and monk seals (more info).
Provided your water authority can treat the waste, flushing is a good way to dispose of dog waste quickly and hygienically, so its not sitting in the bin for days or weeks festering in the bag. The bags are also quite handy for indoor accidents if you have a puppy.
Available from Amazon UK *here
You can put small amounts of dog poop into your compost bin – its not advisable if youve got either a small bin or a large dog!
Its best not to use any bags if possible. Most biodegradable bags arent compostable or can only be composted at industrial composting facilities. If you do use bags check they specifically say they are suitable for home composting.
Currently there are two certification bodies which offer specific “home compostability” certification programmes: Din Certco and Vinçotte. Look for the logos and check they say Home composting
are all certified for composting at home.
When composting pet waste you need to be very strict about hygiene. The composting bin must be layered correctly and filled regularly to keep the temperature high – vital to kill the pathogens in dog waste.
Never use compost containing dog waste on or near food crops. If you are composting your dogs waste be sure to use a worming treatment regularly to reduce the risk of infection.
Insulated hot composters such as the *Hotbin, which are made to work at high temperatures, can be used for composting pet waste. Small amounts of pet waste can also be added into a Green Cone. See more about the Hotbin and Green Cone in our post on Food Waste Digesters.
Pet poop wormeries are basically exactly the same as normal wormeries used for kitchen waste and work in exactly the same way. You dont need to buy a special pet poo wormery.
The worms must be fed exclusively on pet waste as they wont tolerate a mixed diet, though you will need to mix about half and half with shredded paper and torn up corrugated cardboard to keep the waste aerated and stop it from compacting.
Dont use a wormery just after your dog has been treated for worms or you might kill all your little composters! Again, the compost and liquid fertiliser produced should not be used on or near food crops.
In the UK, Wormcity produce a range of stacking wormeries suitable for composting pet poo. These are kept in a shed or garage, so the worms remain active all year round. See them on Amazon UK *here.
See our posts on Worm Composting for lots more information.
Dog waste can be treated alone or added to food scraps in a bokashi system. This is a simple 2-stage process which firstly ferments the waste. The treated waste is then buried in the ground or added to a compost bin, where it breaks down very quickly.
See our posts on Bokashi composting for much more detailed information on using this system. Bokashi bins are available from Amazon UK *here
Dog loos are generally sunk into the ground in a large hole with stones or gravel beneath to ensure good drainage. Water and a bio-activator, such as *Doggie Dooley Waste Terminator are added weekly to help break down the waste naturally.
Provided they are installed and maintained properly these can be OK for one or two small dogs. A popular choice is the *Doggie Dooley. For more information on installing and using the Doggie Dooley system, see their website here.
If you are going to be digging a large hole, you might want to think about using a DIY system instead, as described below. You wont get a fancy lid, but it will be cheaper and less trouble to install, and will use less water. It might work better too, using natural bacteria and soil creatures to break down the waste.
If your local parks do not provide pet waste stations, encourage them to do so. In some parts of the country, the concept of parks or portions of parks established specifically for urban dog owners has gained in popularity. With provisions for proper disposal of dog feces and design to address stormwater runoff, these parks may represent another option for protecting local water quality.
Pet waste can also be a factor in eutrophication of lakes. The release of nutrients from the decay of pet waste promotes weed and algae growth, limiting light penetration and the growth of aquatic vegetation. This in turn can reduce oxygen levels in the water, affecting fish and other aquatic organisms.
Pet waste is NOT fertilizer!
Did you know?According to recent research, non-human waste represents a significant source of bacterial contamination in urban watersheds. Genetic studies by Alderiso et al. (1996) and Trial et al. (1993) both concluded that 95 percent of the fecal coliform found in urban stormwater was of non-human origin.
It has been estimated that for watersheds of up to twenty-square miles draining to small coastal bays, two to three days of droppings from a population of about 100 dogs would contribute enough bacteria and nutrients to temporarily close a bay to swimming and shellfishing (US EPA, 1993).
“I reckon that conservatively one in five dogs are having their poo picked up in plastic bags. Dog poo goes straight to landfill, and becomes a major contributor to the methane gas that comes out of landfill,” he says. “But we grab the methane at source, and don’t transport the waste or send it to an incinerator that gobbles up even more energy. And it’s also a big reducer of the plastic bag problem. I want to see this idea spread around the world and make a significant contribution to the reduction of greenhouse gases – as well as the problem of dog poo on our shoes.”
Let’s be clear that trying to reduce your consumption of plastics is categorically not a reason to stop picking up your dog’s poo. I also want to be honest and say that for about three days I tried flicking it into the bushes instead when on rural walks (let the hate mail commence) until my research confirmed that this was a terrible idea. I apologise.
Burying is not the same as composting. Even my compostable bags need to be in the unique microbial environment of a pungent, rotting down compost heap. Additionally, if I was to bury my dog’s waste somewhere close to a watershed, pathogens could be released into the ground water which then end up in rivers and in the sea. Bacteria from dog poo regularly causes algal bloom and can shut down beaches for swimming or for shellfishing. I had no idea.
Dog poo, it turns out, is a massively emotive and popular issue, both for dog owners and dog haters. Dog shit is disgusting. It smells. It spreads disease. And it’s hard to pick out of the soles of your shoes or your child’s hair as a result of someone who couldn’t be arsed to clear up after their animal.
Ackland shows me a picture of her beautifully abundant garden, clearly benefiting from her expertly maintained compost fertilizer. It’s a practice that has been used in agriculture for thousands of years, yet somehow we seem to have become detached from this simple process. “We have become so materialistic and consumerist that we generate massive amounts of waste that we never think about again. But to my mind, breaking things down and using them again is normal.”
What to do with Dog waste?
The joys of being out and about with your dog: long strolls to start or end the day; your very own pacemaker when out on a run or the perfect excuse to meet up with friends for a coffee in the park. The great outdoors is even more special when alongside our dogs. But there is a less glamorous side. Poop. For those that always pick up after their dog, thank you. You go a long way to protecting public health, while keeping our parks, pavements and paths clean. Once you’ve scooped up your dog’s poop, it can sometimes be a case of ‘what next to do with your dogs poop?’ It’s a question we hear a lot, from both accustomed and first-time dog owners. Luckily, we’re here to clear things up (no pun intended).
Before embarking on your adventure with your dog, make sure you’re equipped for the task ahead. Lead, check. Ball, check. And, the most important of all, poop bags, check. These bags are a must-have on any walk with your dog; without them, you could find yourself in some sticky situations. By law, you need to carry at least two. Compostable dog poop bags are a great choice. They’re robust, easy to carry, and match the strength and versatility of regular plastic bags – designed to deal with any poop size. They’re also termed as biodegradable dog poop bags which break down when placed in well managed compost piles.
Composting is a great way to dispose of your dog’s poop, as long as you get it right. Once you’ve picked up after your dog and bagged it up, you can dispose of it at home, or at an industrial composting facility; make sure you check the facility accepts animal waste, beforehand. At home, you can get rid of your dog’s poop by creating your own compost pile. Organic waste needs the right level of oxygen, heat and water to fully decompose, so it’s important you keep your compost pile warm and moist. Sawdust is also a great addition to combat the high levels of nitrogen contained in our pups’ poop. When you reach the perfect balance of warmth and moisture, all the nasty pathogens are eventually killed off. Your compost is then ready to use on non-edible plants. If you want to find out more about compostable poop bags, take a look at our blog: Can you compost dog poop?
Once you’ve cleaned up your dog’s poop, depositing the poop bag in a bin is commendable, and it’s always been a frontrunner in keeping our communities clean. Admittedly, in some areas, these bins aren’t as easy to come by. Poop bags are strong and sturdy, so you don’t have to worry about them splitting as you carry them to the nearest bin. What bin does dog poo go in? Until recently dog waste had to be separated from general waste, which is why when you are out and about you may see separate dog poo bins. It is now perfectly fine to use any general litter bin to dispose of your dog’s poo, but if you can’t find one, do take it home with you. At home it should be placed in the general domestic waste bin, not the food or garden bin. If you find yourself deep in the countryside or some woodland, with no bins insight, knowing what to do with your dog’s poop can be tricky. Some people suggest a ‘stick and flick’ policy. In our experience, however, we advise you to always bag, pocket and either bin or compost when you can. Flicking, or hurling, your poop into the nearby bushes and woodland, poses a number of problems: firstly, compostable bags will take longer to decompose when they are not disposed of in a compost.
The same rule applies when you are wondering how to dispose of poop in the garden, try to avoid chucking over the fence or into the flowers. Instead compost appropriately, or put it in an outside bin. Worm farms are also an option we would suggest where as flushing it down the toilet isnt a great idea. Read on to find out more about these options.
A disposal choice not as common as compost or dog waste bins, but still a great way to get rid of your dog’s mess. Believe it or not, worms are quite happy to eat a lot of things we don’t want. These include potato peelings, apple cores and, of course, animal waste. Worms eat the waste and eliminate all odours. After the worms have done their bit, you can then use it as the ideal fertiliser for non-edible plant beds. Australian company, Wormtec, advises that you provide a high carbon alongside food and animal waste. Things like newspapers and leaves are a great way to, again, combat the high level of nitrogen. It’s also simply a fantastic way to use up other forms of waste.
Poop and toilets go hand-in-hand, right? With dogs, it’s not that simple. We do not recommend flushing poop bags down the loo. A number of water companies have come out and advised people against flushing dog waste down their toilet. If you’re unsure, bins, compost or worm farms are a great alternative.
Burning your dog’s waste may be regarded as a statutory nuisance due to odour and toxicity and should be avoided. Smoke is an air pollutant, so from an environmental perspective one of the greener methods, such as composting, is a far better and healthier solution to disposing of your dog’s poop responsibly.
These are the more conventional ways to get rid of dog poop, but, as with all things, innovation is changing convention. While compost piles and worm farms are relatively new ways to dispose of dog poop bags, there’s one invention that we really like the look of. In 2018, retired engineer, Brian Harper, revealed his latest invention: dog-poo powered biogas street lamps. On a popular trail in the Malvern Hills, dog walkers can use free paper dog poo bags that, when put in a bin, feed into a bio-digester. Microbes in the anaerobic digester produce methane, which is then stored and used to power street lamps that come on at dusk. It’s fantastic to see these types of inventions come to life, and we hope to see plenty more in the future. In our eyes, waste doesn’t have to be wasted. As you can see, there are plenty of ways to dispose of your dog’s poop. Of course, you’ll find some options are more suitable than others – it all depends on you and your dog. One thing for sure, picking up dog poop should be celebrated, no matter what you choose to do with it after (as long as it’s not left on the pavement or hanging in a tree) So to all the dog owners out there, used to bending down and getting hands on, and the fantastic local facilities who put up with a whole lot of poop, we say thank you. The streets wouldn’t be the same without your help. 
Now you know where to get rid of your dog’s poop, it’s time to get picking. View our range of dog poop bags and dispensers.
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