Disposal of dog waste?

[Alan Folland]

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I live in a small Devon town where it seems the majority of residents have a dog. Most people are very good at picking up their dogs waste using plastic bags. Can anyone tell me what happens to all these plastic bags full of dog excrement? Furthermore, can anyone shed any light on the whether this practice will provide a breeding ground for anaerobic bacteria and any possible health risks associated with this?

 

[Mad Murphy]

Maybe you would be better directing your questions to your local council or waste disposal contractor?

Different places have different guidelines on this kind of waste, some go to landfill others burn , as dog owners our responsibility is to pick up what happens after that is really very much down to the council.
Although there are 'green'disposal options not everyone has the money or space to invest in them.

 

[JoanneF]

Just to add to the reply above, biodegradable bags are available but there are non degradable ones on the market too. I personally think only degradable bags should be available to buy because I don't see the point in picking up poo in a product that doesn't break down.

 

[FrankieDoodle]

Just to add to the reply above, biodegradable bags are available but there are non degradable ones on the market too. I personally think only degradable bags should be available to buy because I don't see the point in picking up poo in a product that doesn't break down.

I buy the degradable ones because as you say what's the point otherwise?

I'm pretty certain it goes to a landfill down here. We used to have those red dog bins, but everyone was chucking rubbish /nappies in them and so the dog walkers would have to tie the poo bags around the post or put it in the normal litter bin ! Now the park has a few litter bins that have dog waste accepted signs on.

 

[JoanneF]

I was quite surprised that our local council tells residents to put bagged poo in the landfill bin. I suppose it can't go in the garden waste bin because some people don't use the biodegradable bags. The other alternative, at home, is to use a small spade and flush it (someone here gave me that tip, sorry I can't remember who to credit them - maybe @JudyN?).

 

[JudyN]

The other alternative, at home, is to use a small spade and flush it (someone here gave me that tip, sorry I can't remember who to credit them - maybe @JudyN?).

I don't think so - though I'd do that if the only loos weren't upstairs.

Dog poo should be compostible in council green waste schemes, but as it does need to be 'hot composted' they may be playing safe, or worrying about people who will object to compost with dog poo in. Round here bagged poo goes in general waste (including public litter bins), but I've a feeling that even biodegradable bags can last almost for ever in anaerobic environments like local tips.

 

[Mad Murphy]

I have to pay dog tax, at the moment its €67 per year for Murphy.

I hate bio bags with a vengance, the ones we can buy are either paper or made of potato starch. Both are very unsuitable in a country were the rain falls almost daily..I have had both fail with disgusting results.The starch ones stick and start to melt on wet hands. The council have taken away many of the rubbish bins so sometimes we have to walk several km before we find a bin by which time the bio bag has dissolved and the paper one is soaking through.
They are also quite expensive €1.99 for 10..
I have been cautioned for using a bio bag that I put down the drain, apperantly thats not allowed either so I use plastic.
But there must be a better alterantive.

What angers me here is that dogs are the only pet that is taxed, you can have a cat, bird, goat, or even a horse and not pay tax but a dog ? Oh and my council isnt even the most expensive. Then theres the added bug bear that the money raised from dog tax does not even get put back into dog related care or even dog wardens it just gets added to the general council fund which means dog owners are paying more general council tax than anyone else.

 

[arealhuman]

Hello @Alan Folland and welcome to the forum. I too am in Devon. I asked our Local Authority this very question some time ago as I wanted to know if I could put dog poo bags in normal waste bins. This was their reply:

You can use normal litter bins for dog waste bags. The waste from litter bins and the dog waste bins go to the Waste To Energy Plant.... to be incinerated.

As to the health risk I wouldn't know, you'd have to consult an expert on that. I hope that helps.