How To Reduce Your Carbon "Pawprint" and Help The Planet
by Pilar Bueno
There has been a huge awakening about the damage plastic pollution is doing to our planet and particularly to our oceans were 8 millions tons of plastic end up every year, joining the 100 million already swimming in its depth slowing and painfully killing our wildlife. David Attenborough and the Blue Planet II series has woken up hundreds of thousands of people to the urgent need to change and encouraged them to sign up to the Plastic Action campaign.
So, as more of us have started cutting back on single-use plastics and continue looking at ways to reduce our overall waste to landfill, the question of dealing with your dog's faeces comes to mind.
As a responsible dog owner and dog sitter, I wouldn’t dream of not collecting dog poop from the street or public spaces and it does bug me when I see irresponsible people allowing their dogs to soil the streets. It is a matter of sanitary cleanliness and common courtesy. But what about when you are in the great outdoors?
Those of you that know us, are aware that John and I spend a lot of our free time outdoors photographing the wildlife and walking our extended family of dogs we look after. There is nothing like being in nature to disconnect from the daily stresses, recharge batteries and relax.
More and more recently our joy of being outdoors is being tainted by the continuous sightings of bagged up dog poop littering the undergrowth, bushes and hanging from tree branches as some kind of sick and smelly Christmas ornament.
I guess people have been encouraged into bagging up their dog faeces, and whilst I commend their diligence, surely common sense would dictate that, if you have picked it up, you should dispose of it correctly in a bin. And in the absence of a bin in your local woodlands, park of your favourite trail, please let nature take its course. Dog poop is organic matter and whether you like to think about it or not, all kinds of organisms such as bacteria, fungi, moulds, as well as beetles and pretty butterflies, to name a few, feed on this "doggy goodness".
I guess people have been encouraged into bagging up their dog faeces, and whilst I commend their diligence, surely common sense would dictate that, if you have picked it up, you should dispose of it correctly in a bin. And in the absence of a bin in your local woodlands, park of your favourite trail, please let nature take its course. Dog poop is organic matter and whether you like to think about it or not, all kinds of organisms such as bacteria, fungi, moulds, as well as beetles and pretty butterflies, to name a few, feed on this "doggy goodness".
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| Lunchtime for the Comma - Polygonum Butterfly and friends |
The problem starts when you wrap it in toxic plastics and leave it around. The faeces will not end up breaking down, feeding other creatures and eventually enriching the soil. Instead, we end up with more petroleum-derived plastics clogging up our planet taking several hundred years to decompose.
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| A supermarket shopping bag buried in the undergrowth FULL of Dog Poop Bags |
So here is a 'crazy' thought: Pick up a stick (plenty of those in nature), flick the offending turd out of the path and into the bushes, kick a bit of soil over any remaining waste and let the rest of us enjoy a beautiful walk in nature.
What are the Alternatives to Conventional Plastic Bags?
If you are lucky (in this case) to live in the USA, you can call the services of a professional to come to your house and pick up your dog poop! I am not kidding you, Doodycalls is the company. But, if like me, you live in the UK, you have no choice but to deal with your beloved pet excretions. Whether you are at home or out for walkies with your pooch, I think you will be surprised with the greener alternatives available.
Biodegradable / Compostable Bags
Beware, however, that due to unregulated guidelines and misleading packaging, not all “green” poop bags are as environmentally friendly as they claim to be (see press article by the Federal Trade Commission).
Many of this so-called eco-friendly bags are made of the same petrochemicals as conventional synthetic plastic bags with added toxic chemicals to accelerate the breakdown of plastic.
Look out therefore for poop bags that are made from corn-starch or other plant-based material, such as the ones sold by Earth Rated, MyAlphaPet, PupRepublic or TSP Premium Poop Bags. These later ones are actually "OK Compost Home certified", meaning that their bags disintegrate outside industrial composting facilities. Please note however that it is not advisable to compost dog poop at home as dog waste contain parasites and pathogens that would be harmful to your plants.
Flushable Dog Poop Bags
Made from a water-soluble alternative to normal plastic (Polyvinyl Alcohol - PVA), these bags are designed to be flushed down the toilet along with your dog waste. The bags start to break down as soon as they are immersed in water and bag and waste ends up being processed at your local sewage plant.
You won't be adding waste to landfills and can say goodbye to smelly bins.
Flush Puppies are one of the leading brands and their bags are also certified compostable.
Cardboard Dog Poop Scooper
Scoopeasy has a genius design that consists of a funnel made of cardboard (recycled and compostable, in fact) that comes flat with an attached scooper. It's as simple as using the scooper to push the "goodies" inside the quickly assembled funnel. You then fold the funnel close and carry it by the handles to the nearest bin. Have a look at this video to see it in action (don't worry, no real poop is used in this advert).
Reusable and Washable Bags
The ultimate environmentally friendly and zero waste option in the market but certainly not one for the faint hearted!
This one requires you to pay close attention to your dog because as soon as you see him squatting, you have to place the flat-out bag under your dog to collect the faeces. You clinch the bag and carry it to the nearest toilet to dispose of the waste. Rinse and dry the bag until next time. Curious? Check out Poof
Dog Waste Disposal
DoggyBog has designed this innovative system that fits quickly in just 30 minutes into your house's existing outdoor soil pipe. You simply pick up the poop (or bag it in a flushable poop bag if away from home), throw the waste down the pipe and flush it away. Their starter kit retails are £54.
Flushable Dog Loo
We discovered one of this In-Ground Dog Waste Disposal Units at one of our regular client’s home in North London. They are essentially a container with drain holes that you sink into the ground. At certain intervals, you add water and if necessary a non-toxic active liquid to help break down the waste. It is a sealed container so it is discreet, smell and insect free. Good Boy and PowerLoo are two very different product examples.
If you have found this article interesting and somewhat amusing, please feel free to like and share with other dog and "tree-hugging" lovers and don't forget to let us know if you have discovered other ingenious ways to deal with this unpleasant task.
But enough poop talk. Owning a caring for a dog is one of the most rewarding things you could ever experience. Even though we don't share a common verbal language something magical happens when your soul meets with the warm, trusting nature and intelligence of a dog. All they ask for is kindness, compassion and a regular meal. In return they will be with you through the trials of life, your best friend, always loyal and always has your back when the road gets rough.
So let me finish this blog entry by sharing with you a dog story extracted from the book "Dog Tales: 60 True Doggy Stories of Loyalty, Heroism and Devotion" written by John Hodges and published by our sister company VIDDA Publishing: "Would you like to see the woodpeckers?"
So let me finish this blog entry by sharing with you a dog story extracted from the book "Dog Tales: 60 True Doggy Stories of Loyalty, Heroism and Devotion" written by John Hodges and published by our sister company VIDDA Publishing: "Would you like to see the woodpeckers?"
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