I use Biodegradable poop bags. I always have. I have drawers and drawers of them because I bought them in bulk. But I don’t buy them anymore.
The biodegradable bags that I use are the same brand that most of my clients (we are in a liberal, environmentally-aware area here in Northern California) use, and have probably used for years. You know, the friendly dark green cartoon dog on a light green background? Earth-rated? Those. Earth-rated is a brilliant phrase. It always made me feel good, as though mother Earth herself approved of my poop-bag purchase.
Unfortunately, Mother Earth may be rolling her eyes at my smug self-satisfaction.
Used poop bags, at least my used poop bags, go straight to the landfill, where they are covered with trash, trapped in an environment with zero oxygen, rendering them un-biodegradable. When my great great grandchildren are digging through landfills looking for materials that will allow them to survive in the post-apocalypse, they will no doubt encounter a 12 ounce capacity bag featuring the sunny smile of a dark green cartoon dog printed on light green plastic, and the faint smell of lavender. And, if they so desire, they can open up said bag and get a whiff of the leavings of great- great-granddad’s beloved Staffordshire Terrier, Sookie.
If you really want a green solution to pet waste, here are your options, their promises, and the realities of each:
Flushable
Flushable dog poop bags, like flushable baby wipes and any other flushable product, do not degrade quickly enough to avoid clogging sewer lines. If your dog eliminates once a week, the flushable route is probably eco-friendly.
However! If you are able to get your pet’s waste to the toilet sans bag, the EPA considers flushing your pet’s waste to be the most eco-friendly disposal method.
Biodegradable
If you’re not leaving your best friends’ leavings out in an open field, biodegradable bags will probably end up in a landfill where the rate of degradation is no better than any other plastic.
Compostable
Currently the lesser of three evils, compostable dog bags can be sent out with your city’s composting service (Vallejo does not yet have a curb side composting company.)
You do need to check with the pick up company, as many curb side composters will not accept dog waste.
If you plan on using your dog poop in your own back yard, keep an eye on your carbon/nitrogen ratios and- AND! Here’s the kicker- if your compost pile isn’t reaching temperatures of 160 degrees Fahrenheit, you are not killing off the bacteria in your dogs’ waste. So that’s a health risk you’ll need to balance.
The Doggie Dooley
There are not many articles online about the Doggie Dooley, and I haven’t tried one, but I’m intrigued. Only $30 at Chewy, The Dooley is a septic tank for dog waste. You add water each day, and a special tablet once a week, and the Dooley rapidly breaks down your dog waste. Reviews are mixed, but I’m tempted to try it just because it’s so affordable.
Conclusions
Pets are a part of human society and, as such, they produce pollution- Just like us!
It’s an unfortunate reality, but it’s up to us to choose the most eco-friendly solution that is feasible for our living situation. Personally, I may start flushing my pup’s Lawn-Gifts. If I can dig 4 feet into the soil here in VJO, I may get a Dooley, too.
If you have your own dog waste solution, please let me know!