Like it or not, pet ownership ups your waste quotient (plastic waste bags and water, to name a few), but with care and effort, you can skip the bags and dispose of your pet waste in an environmentally safe way, and maybe give your flowers a little boost in the process.

Dogs

Since dog poop can contain bacteria like E. coli and salmonella, it’s important to compost it separately from your vegetable garden compost, and use it only on ornamental plants. Proper composting destroys bacteria and pathogens to produce a safe, nutrient-rich soil, while eliminating the transporting of pet waste for disposal, saving landfill space and energy. For more information on how to do this, click here to read the USDA’s guide for composting dog waste.

If composting your dog waste is not of interest to you, look to used biodegradable pet waste bags instead of traditional plastic ones when throwing your pet waste in the trash. Also, keep in mind the smaller the bag the smaller the impact.

Cats

This waste can contain other harmful bacteria that require a significant amount of heat to kill, so it is not advised to compost it. Instead, look for a biodegradable kitty litter to replace traditional clay litter (which takes a lot longer to break down in the landfill) and place it in a recycled paper bag or biodegradable versions, then dispose of it in your household trash. This is the safest way to keep the bacteria out of our food and water supply, and help it to break down quicker.

With just a little extra effort, being an eco-friendly pet owner can be as easy as making some of these small changes to your daily routine. And as always, if you have any questions, you can always contact us for more information.