The Relevance of Not Flushing Animal Waste Down the Toilet
The Relevance of Not Flushing Animal Waste Down the Toilet
Blog Article
Just how do you feel about 4 Reasons Why Dog Poop Cleanup is Important?
When it concerns disposing of waste, particularly animal waste, many people often turn to the practical option of flushing it down the toilet. However, this seemingly very easy service can have severe repercussions for the environment and public health. In this write-up, we'll discover why flushing pet waste down the toilet is a negative idea and supply different approaches for proper disposal.
Intro
Appropriate garbage disposal is critical for preserving environmental sustainability and public health. While it might appear safe to purge animal waste down the bathroom, it can result in different problems, both for the atmosphere and human well-being.
Dangers of flushing pet waste
Ecological impact
Purging animal waste introduces unsafe microorganisms and pathogens right into waterways, which can adversely impact marine ecological communities. These virus can pollute water sources and damage aquatic life, disrupting delicate communities.
Public health problems
Pet waste contains harmful germs such as E. coli and Salmonella, which can present major health and wellness dangers to human beings. Purging animal waste down the toilet can contaminate water supplies, resulting in the spread of illness and infections.
Alternatives to flushing
As opposed to purging pet waste down the commode, there are several alternative disposal approaches that are much more environmentally friendly and sanitary.
Composting
Composting pet waste is an eco-friendly means to throw away it. By composting, organic matter is broken down right into nutrient-rich dirt, which can be made use of to fertilize gardens and plants.
Garbage dump disposal
Taking care of animal waste in a landfill is another option. While not as environmentally friendly as composting, it is a more secure option to flushing, as it stops the contamination of water sources.
Animal waste disposal systems
There are specialized pet waste disposal systems offered that securely and hygienically throw away pet waste. These systems often make use of enzymes to break down waste and get rid of odors.
Actions to appropriate animal garbage disposal
To ensure correct disposal of pet waste, comply with these steps:
Scooping and nabbing waste
On a regular basis scoop and bag animal waste utilizing biodegradable bags. This avoids waste from polluting the setting.
Using designated waste containers
Dispose of bagged animal waste in assigned waste bins, such as compost containers or landfill bins. Avoid flushing it down the toilet in all expenses.
Cleaning can and pet locations frequently
Consistently tidy litter boxes and animal locations to avoid the buildup of waste and microorganisms. Use pet-safe cleansing products to preserve health.
Benefits of correct disposal approaches
Embracing correct disposal approaches for animal waste offers numerous benefits:
Reduced environmental pollution
Appropriate disposal techniques reduce the danger of environmental pollution, protecting waterways and ecosystems from contamination
Lessened threat of water contamination.
By avoiding flushing pet waste down the bathroom, the danger of water contamination is significantly decreased, guarding public health.
Boosted hygiene and health
Appropriate disposal methods advertise much better cleanliness and health, producing a safer setting for both people and pets.
Final thought
In conclusion, purging animal waste down the commode is dangerous to the atmosphere and public health. By adopting alternate disposal techniques and following appropriate waste management methods, we can reduce the unfavorable effect of pet waste and add to a cleaner, much healthier world.
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
Consistently tidy litter boxes and animal locations to avoid the buildup of waste and microorganisms. Use pet-safe cleansing products to preserve health.
Benefits of correct disposal approaches
Embracing correct disposal approaches for animal waste offers numerous benefits:
Reduced environmental pollution
Appropriate disposal techniques reduce the danger of environmental pollution, protecting waterways and ecosystems from contamination
Lessened threat of water contamination.
By avoiding flushing pet waste down the bathroom, the danger of water contamination is significantly decreased, guarding public health.
Boosted hygiene and health
Appropriate disposal methods advertise much better cleanliness and health, producing a safer setting for both people and pets.
Final thought
In conclusion, purging animal waste down the commode is dangerous to the atmosphere and public health. By adopting alternate disposal techniques and following appropriate waste management methods, we can reduce the unfavorable effect of pet waste and add to a cleaner, much healthier world.
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
As a passionate person who reads on 10 Things You Should Never Flush Down The Toilet, I thought sharing that piece was really useful. I beg you take a moment to promote this article if you appreciated it. Thanks for taking the time to read it.
Start Now Report this page