When You Need to Avoid Flushing Animal Waste Down the Toilet
When You Need to Avoid Flushing Animal Waste Down the Toilet
Blog Article
What are your ideas with regards to Can You Flush Dog and Cat Poo Down the Toilet??
When it involves throwing away waste, especially animal waste, many people commonly turn to the hassle-free option of flushing it down the bathroom. However, this relatively very easy remedy can have major repercussions for the atmosphere and public health. In this write-up, we'll check out why flushing pet waste down the bathroom is a bad idea and supply different methods for proper disposal.
Intro
Correct waste disposal is vital for preserving ecological sustainability and public health. While it may appear safe to purge animal waste down the toilet, it can lead to numerous problems, both for the environment and human wellness.
Threats of flushing animal waste
Environmental impact
Purging animal waste presents damaging microorganisms and pathogens into rivers, which can adversely impact aquatic ecological communities. These pathogens can infect water sources and injury marine life, disrupting delicate ecosystems.
Public health problems
Animal waste consists of unsafe germs such as E. coli and Salmonella, which can present serious health risks to people. Purging animal waste down the toilet can infect water materials, leading to the spread of conditions and infections.
Alternatives to flushing
Rather than flushing animal waste down the bathroom, there are a number of alternative disposal methods that are extra environmentally friendly and sanitary.
Composting
Composting animal waste is an eco-friendly means to dispose of it. By composting, organic matter is broken down right into nutrient-rich dirt, which can be utilized to fertilize yards and plants.
Landfill disposal
Taking care of animal waste in a landfill is another choice. While not as environmentally friendly as composting, it is a safer option to flushing, as it avoids the contamination of water resources.
Family pet garbage disposal systems
There are customized pet waste disposal systems offered that securely and hygienically throw away animal waste. These systems commonly make use of enzymes to break down waste and remove smells.
Actions to appropriate animal waste disposal
To make certain correct disposal of animal waste, follow these actions:
Scooping and nabbing waste
Frequently scoop and bag pet waste making use of eco-friendly bags. This protects against waste from infecting the setting.
Using assigned waste bins
Dispose of bagged animal waste in marked waste bins, such as garden compost bins or landfill containers. Prevent flushing it down the toilet in any way prices.
Cleaning up litter boxes and animal locations regularly
On a regular basis tidy litter boxes and pet dog locations to prevent the build-up of waste and germs. Use pet-safe cleaning products to preserve health.
Benefits of appropriate disposal approaches
Embracing correct disposal methods for pet waste supplies several benefits:
Lowered environmental pollution
Proper disposal methods lower the danger of environmental pollution, protecting rivers and communities from contamination
Reduced danger of water contamination.
By avoiding flushing animal waste down the commode, the threat of water contamination is significantly minimized, securing public health.
Enhanced hygiene and health
Proper disposal approaches promote better cleanliness and hygiene, developing a more secure setting for both humans and animals.
Conclusion
To conclude, flushing animal waste down the bathroom is damaging to the environment and public health. By adopting alternative disposal methods and adhering to appropriate waste management practices, we can minimize the adverse influence of animal waste and contribute 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 an enthusiastic person who reads on 4 Reasons Why Dog Poop Cleanup is Important, I imagined sharing that section was a good idea. Sharing is caring. Helping people is fun. We truly appreciate reading our article about Can You Flush Dog and Cat Poo Down the Toilet?.
Call Today Report this page