How To Dispose of Dog Poop Properly
One of the most unpleasant but necessary parts of having a dog is picking up dog poop. If you’ve been a dog owner for any amount of time, you know that dogs are not particularly discriminatory about where they poop—and once they poop, it’s your job to properly dispose of the dog poop.
Of course, your next question is sure to be: “How do I properly dispose of dog poop?” If you’re like many pet owners, you probably don’t want to harm the environment (or your neighborhood dogs!) by leaving dog poop out. So, where do you put it?
In this article, we’ll look at how you can dispose of dog poop properly to keep your dog, your yard, and your family safe and healthy.
The Best Way to Dispose of Dog Poop
The truth is, there’s not one specific “best way” to get rid of dog poop. The best way for you will ultimately depend on several factors, including where you live, what your septic system is like, how much money you have, and how much time you have to pick up dog poop.
The most efficient, well-recognized way of disposing of dog poop is to wrap it in a bag of some kind and throw it in the trash. You can use regular trash bags or biodegradable bags for this—just be sure to read up on your “biodegradable” bags, as some that claim to be biodegradable actually aren’t.
The “pick it up and throw it away” method is a simple, quick, painless, and hygienic way to dispose of dog poop. However, there are other ways to consider as well.
Dog Poop Disposal Methods
If throwing poop in the trash is not your thing, there are a few other methods you could try to dispose of dog poop. These include the following.
1. Composting
Composting is one of the most environmentally-friendly ways of disposing of poop.
However, you can’t just add dog poop to your regular compost pile. You need to create a separate compost pile with a carbon source such as sawdust. You will need your compost pile to reach at least 140 degrees Fahrenheit in order to kill the pathogens found in dog poop.
In addition, you shouldn’t use dog poop compost in a garden or yard that you use to grow food for human consumption. Dog poop contains various pollutants that could be harmful to your health, even if the compost pile did reach a high enough temperature to potentially kill them.
2. Flushing
Another popular, environmentally-friendly option for disposing of dog poop is flushing it down the toilet. Your septic system sends all waste to a specific sewage treatment plant that should rid dog poop of toxins.
While this is a good option if it works for you, it can be a bit of a pain. Obviously, picking up dog poop and taking it inside to dump in the toilet is fairly time-consuming. Plus, you will need to either remove the poop from the bag you use to pick it up or buy flushable dog poop bags which should always be used with caution (if they don’t decompose fast enough, they could still clog your system).
If you want to flush your dog’s poop, you should make sure you have time and a good method of picking up poop and dumping it into a toilet.
3. Burying
Canine waste disposal systems are available for sale. These are essentially mini septic tanks that you can bury in your yard and fill with water and enzymes. Then, dump your dog’s poop in the tank and let it decompose. You just have to change the water and enzymes occasionally.
Some people simply bury their dog’s waste in the yard, but this method isn’t recommended. It is still possible that the dog poop can act as a hazard to your yard and potentially even to people or animals who come in contact with the soil from the yard.
Plus, if you do bury it, you’ll end up with large holes scattered around your yard, which can be quite a pain and definitely isn’t particularly attractive. Burying dog poop is not a great method, not to mention that you really can’t do it if your dog drops a load when you’re out on a walk or visiting a friend.
The Bottom Line
There is no best method for getting rid of dog poop, but there are certainly several you can try. Decide if you want to add a system to your yard, buy flushable bags, or invest time and energy into creating a compost bin.
Of course, if none of these methods work for you, throwing your dog poop away is always an option. Whatever you do, just make sure you keep it out of your yard and your dog’s space! You want to keep your dog and your family safe and healthy by not exposing them to the pathogens in dog poop.
Get Rid of Your Dog Poop
Some ways of disposing of dog poop are more environmentally friendly than others but may be less effective as they’re much more time-consuming and expensive. But sometimes, you just don’t have the time or energy to think about the BEST way to dispose of dog poop and how you can start doing it yourself.
If you want to dispose of your dog poop as easily as possible without having to go through the hassle yourself, give Idaho Poop Scoop a call. We can pick up your dog poop and get rid of it without you having to worry about a thing. We’ll make sure your yard is clean and ready for anything!
Our team is dedicated to serving you and your dog by providing you with a clean, safe, and healthy yard for your entire family—including the canine members. If you’d like help cleaning your dog’s poop, check out our services and hire us to take care of the dog poop disposal for you.