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Everyone maintains their own unique assumption when it comes to Why you should never flush dog poop down the toilet.

When it pertains to dealing with waste, especially animal waste, lots of people frequently consider the hassle-free option of flushing it down the toilet. Nevertheless, this seemingly very easy solution can have significant effects for the setting and public health. In this post, we'll explore why flushing pet waste down the bathroom is a negative idea and offer alternate techniques for correct disposal.

 

Intro

Proper waste disposal is critical for maintaining environmental sustainability and public health. While it may appear harmless to flush animal waste down the commode, it can result in various concerns, both for the atmosphere and human well-being.

 

Risks of flushing pet waste

 

Environmental impact

Flushing animal waste presents harmful bacteria and pathogens right into waterways, which can negatively influence water ecological communities. These virus can infect water resources and damage marine life, disrupting fragile ecosystems.

 

Public health concerns

Animal waste contains damaging microorganisms such as E. coli and Salmonella, which can posture major health threats to humans. Flushing animal waste down the bathroom can infect water products, leading to the spread of illness and infections.

 

Alternatives to flushing

Rather than purging animal waste down the bathroom, there are a number of alternate disposal methods that are much more environmentally friendly and hygienic.

 

Composting

Composting pet waste is an environment-friendly means to dispose of it. By composting, raw material is broken down right into nutrient-rich soil, which can be utilized to fertilize yards and plants.

 

Land fill disposal

Throwing away animal waste in a land fill is another choice. While not as environmentally friendly as composting, it is a safer choice to flushing, as it stops the contamination of water resources.

 

Pet garbage disposal systems

There are customized animal waste disposal systems offered that securely and hygienically dispose of animal waste. These systems usually use enzymes to break down waste and remove odors.

 

Actions to proper pet waste disposal

To make sure correct disposal of pet waste, follow these steps:

 

Scooping and nabbing waste

On a regular basis scoop and bag pet waste making use of biodegradable bags. This prevents waste from contaminating the setting.

 

Utilizing designated waste containers

Dispose of bagged animal waste in marked waste bins, such as compost containers or garbage dump containers. Avoid flushing it down the commode in any way prices.
Cleaning up litter boxes and pet areas routinely
Routinely clean litter boxes and family pet locations to avoid the build-up of waste and microorganisms. Usage pet-safe cleansing items to keep hygiene.

 

Benefits of proper disposal methods

Adopting correct disposal techniques for animal waste supplies numerous benefits:

 

Decreased environmental pollution

Correct disposal approaches reduce the danger of environmental pollution, shielding rivers and ecological communities from contamination

 

Reduced danger of water contamination.

By staying clear of flushing animal waste down the toilet, the threat of water contamination is dramatically decreased, protecting public health.

 

Boosted hygiene and health

Appropriate disposal approaches advertise better sanitation and health, creating a safer environment for both people and animals.

 

Verdict

Finally, purging animal waste down the commode is dangerous to the atmosphere and public health. By embracing alternative disposal approaches and adhering to appropriate waste management techniques, we can lessen the negative impact of pet waste and add to a cleaner, much healthier planet.

 

Can You Flush Dog and Cat Poo Down the Toilet?

 

Cat poo often contains a highly resistant parasite called Toxoplasma that can infect people and animals. Many municipal water treatments do not have equipment or processes to kill it (as they're designed for humans who don't poop this parasite!) meaning it would pass into our waterways, posing a risk to humans and animals alike. It can even prove fatal for some wildlife.

Many studies have shown that so called biodegradable and 'flushable' products, including flushable poo bags, don't actually disintegrate as claimed. This is primarily because they're designed to biodegrade in warm water, not cold water, like that in our toilets. In fact, 'flushable' poo bags have historically caused $8 million in blockages in Australia so it's not recommended to try flushing these bags, despite what they claim! The same goes for cat litter. Our old sewage systems are only designed for the 3 P's - Pee, Poo and Paper and can easily get blocked if anything else is thrown in.

 

So what about dog poo (without the bags)?

 

Again, dog poo is considerably different to human poo. It contains twice the harmful bacteria and viruses and also contains unique parasites. One particular parasite, Toxocara, is highly resistant to high temperatures. Our water treatment facilities are not designed to deal with dog poo pathogens such as this so there's a chance that they will pass through and contaminate our waterways if flushed down the toilet. Toxocara can also infect humans, causing blindness in children and infect animals so presents a public health risk. This is why many waste water treatment plants advise against flushing any type of pet poo down the toilet, due to the extra pathogens it contains.

Dog and cat poo can also contain medicines, such as parasite treatments, which can be highly toxic to aquatic life and may threaten the stability of entire ecosystems. Medicines are much trickier to clean from sewage and will likely pass unchanged into our waterways.

 

Scalability

 

There's also the question of whether flushing pet waste could really ever be a viable widespread solution. Could our old sewage systems really cope with the additional faeces of 12 million dogs and 10 million cats if everyone starting flushing their pet's poo? It's unlikely!

We contacted Wessex Water and South West Water on the matter of flushing pet poo and both gave different answers. The former advised it was safe to do so, while the latter strongly advised against it! This may be due to their different treatment processes which can vary depending on location. However both water companies agreed that you should never flush any 'flushable' products down the toilet, even if they claim to be safe to flush as in real world this just simply isn't the case and they often cause costly blockages. They emphasised that only the three P's - Poo, Paper and Pee should ever be flushed down the toilet.

 

Conclusion

 

In summary, never flush biodegradable or 'flushable' poo bags or cat litter down the toilet. We also feel it's safer to avoid flushing cat and dog faeces, due to it's pathogenic content, the unknown risks of parasite treatments and medicines on wildlife and the wider environment and due to the inconsistent advice. Dog poo may be disposed in a well managed compost or wormery, rather than down the toilet. If you are still really keen to flush pet poo, make sure you speak to your local water treatment plant before you do so, as they may or may not have the treatments to safely process it.

If you dispose of your pet's waste in general waste then ensure to do so in the most eco-friendly way by using recycled poo bags such as Award Winning ReSEAcled poo bags. Experts advice it's better to re-use waste that was already destined for landfill or incineration rather than using poo bags made form virgin materials because this helps reduce plastic production, reduce plastic pollution and cuts carbon emissions and energy use. ReSEAcled poo bags are also the world's first Plastic Negative poo bags, removing 5 times as much plastic from the environment than they use! Click here to learn more.

https://petimpact.co.uk/blogs/poo-revolution/can-you-flush-pet-poo-down-the-toilet

 

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