Every person will have their unique piece of advice with regards to Should you flush animal waste down the toilet.
When it involves throwing away waste, specifically animal waste, many individuals usually turn to the hassle-free alternative of flushing it down the bathroom. Nonetheless, this relatively simple service can have serious effects for the setting and public health. In this post, we'll discover why flushing pet waste down the toilet is a negative idea and provide alternative techniques for correct disposal.
Introduction
Correct garbage disposal is essential for keeping environmental sustainability and public health. While it may seem safe to flush animal waste down the bathroom, it can lead to different concerns, both for the atmosphere and human health.
Threats of flushing animal waste
Ecological influence
Flushing animal waste presents damaging microorganisms and virus into waterways, which can negatively impact water ecological communities. These microorganisms can pollute water sources and injury marine life, disrupting delicate environments.
Public health worries
Animal waste consists of unsafe microorganisms such as E. coli and Salmonella, which can present major health and wellness threats to human beings. Purging pet waste down the commode can infect water supplies, causing the spread of diseases and infections.
Alternatives to flushing
Instead of flushing pet waste down the toilet, there are several different disposal methods that are much more environmentally friendly and sanitary.
Composting
Composting animal waste is an eco-friendly means to deal with it. By composting, organic matter is broken down right into nutrient-rich soil, which can be made use of to feed gardens and plants.
Land fill disposal
Dealing with pet waste in a landfill is another choice. While not as environmentally friendly as composting, it is a safer option to flushing, as it stops the contamination of water sources.
Family pet waste disposal systems
There are specific pet dog waste disposal systems offered that securely and hygienically get rid of animal waste. These systems often make use of enzymes to break down waste and get rid of odors.
Actions to correct pet garbage disposal
To make certain correct disposal of pet waste, comply with these actions:
Scooping and getting waste
Consistently scoop and bag animal waste utilizing naturally degradable bags. This prevents waste from polluting the atmosphere.
Utilizing marked waste bins
Dispose of bagged pet waste in assigned waste containers, such as garden compost containers or garbage dump bins. Stay clear of flushing it down the bathroom whatsoever expenses.
Cleansing litter boxes and animal areas regularly
Frequently clean litter boxes and family pet locations to avoid the accumulation of waste and germs. Usage pet-safe cleaning products to keep hygiene.
Benefits of proper disposal approaches
Taking on correct disposal methods for animal waste uses several advantages:
Decreased environmental pollution
Appropriate disposal approaches minimize the threat of environmental pollution, securing rivers and communities from contamination
Lessened risk of water contamination.
By preventing flushing pet waste down the toilet, the risk of water contamination is significantly decreased, safeguarding public health.
Improved cleanliness and health
Appropriate disposal techniques promote better hygiene and health, creating a safer setting for both human beings and pets.
Conclusion
In conclusion, flushing animal waste down the commode is harmful to the atmosphere and public health. By adopting alternative disposal techniques and adhering to correct waste administration practices, we can lessen the unfavorable influence of animal waste and add to a cleaner, healthier earth.
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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