1. Every year 40 million tons of dog waste is produced throughout the world.
2. Dogs generate disease-causing bacteria that can make people sick. Studies done in the last few years put dogs third or fourth on the list of contributors to bacteria in contaminated waters. All dogs harbor so-called coliform bacteria, which live in the gut. The group includes E. coli, a bacterium that can cause disease, and fecal coliform bacteria, which is spread through feces. Dogs also carry salmonella and giardia. Environmental officials use measurements of some of these bacteria as barometers of how much fecal matter has contaminated a body of water. The harmful bacteria dog waste contains pollutes the water and may cause dysentery or even cholera if accidentally ingested.
Dog poop left on your lawn can seep into our ground water, wash into storm drains, and flow into creeks, streams, and rivers as well as transmit worms and other parasites such as roundworms and hookworms.
Pet waste is rich in nutrients. The nutrients act as fertilizers and cause algae to grow rapidly. Algae blooms result in large fish kills when they die, because the process of decay removes all oxygen from the water. This is devastating to aquatic life.
A national survey of 1,000 Americans found that 80% of dog owners were unaware that dog waste poses a health threat to their family, and more than 83% of those surveyed didn't know they could become infected by the worms and parasites in their pet's waste.
3. Dog waste does not make good fertilizer. In fact, it goes beyond being bad fertilizer; it may contain harmful microorganisms and bacteria that can make you and your family sick. For this reason, you should never compost pet waste and reuse it as fertilizer.
So how can we dispose of dog waste without posing a threat to water?
If waste is flushed down the toilet, it will be treated by the sewage treatment plant. (using flushable bags)
Waste that is bagged and knotted will end up in a landfill or incinerated to produce power. Biodegradable bags will decompose in a commercial composting environment between 60 and 90 days after use. It's important to remember not to place feces-filled bags into home composting systems or green bins as this could lead to E. Coli contamination. Basically, dogs eat meat. Biodegradable bags will decompose in a natural setting at an extended rate comparable to other naturally biodegradable materials, such as paper, leaves, and food waste.
About 4U2Reuse: Bibi founded 4U2ReUSE two years ago, and the company firmly believes in the importance of respecting the planet and encouraging future generations in this regard. 4U2Reuse is committed to decreasing the amount of new plastic bags and preventing existing ones from ending up in landfills by encouraging their customers to reuse their bags, and by raising public awareness about how reusing plastic bags impacts the environment. For more information please visit www.4u2reuse.com.
