Were you on the lookout for advice around Don't Flush Your Pets Poo Down The Loo, Vet Warns?
When it comes to taking care of waste, particularly animal waste, many people usually resort to the convenient option of flushing it down the commode. However, this apparently simple option can have serious effects for the setting and public health. In this post, we'll discover why flushing animal waste down the bathroom is a bad idea and offer different approaches for proper disposal.
Intro
Proper waste disposal is vital for keeping environmental sustainability and public health. While it might seem safe to purge animal waste down the bathroom, it can lead to different issues, both for the atmosphere and human well-being.
Threats of flushing animal waste
Environmental influence
Purging animal waste presents harmful germs and microorganisms right into waterways, which can negatively affect marine communities. These virus can infect water resources and injury aquatic life, disrupting fragile ecological communities.
Public health concerns
Pet waste contains unsafe bacteria such as E. coli and Salmonella, which can posture significant wellness dangers to people. Purging pet waste down the toilet can infect water materials, bring about the spread of diseases and infections.
Alternatives to flushing
Rather than purging pet waste down the commode, there are a number of different disposal methods that are a lot more environmentally friendly and sanitary.
Composting
Composting pet waste is an environmentally friendly way to take care of it. By composting, organic matter is broken down right into nutrient-rich soil, which can be utilized to feed gardens and plants.
Landfill disposal
Getting rid of pet waste in a land fill is one more alternative. While not as environmentally friendly as composting, it is a much safer alternative to flushing, as it avoids the contamination of water sources.
Animal garbage disposal systems
There are specific pet waste disposal systems offered that securely and hygienically take care of animal waste. These systems often utilize enzymes to break down waste and remove smells.
Steps to proper animal garbage disposal
To make sure appropriate disposal of pet waste, comply with these steps:
Scooping and bagging waste
Consistently scoop and bag pet waste making use of eco-friendly bags. This prevents waste from infecting the atmosphere.
Making use of marked waste containers
Dispose of bagged animal waste in marked waste containers, such as garden compost containers or landfill bins. Avoid flushing it down the toilet at all prices.
Cleaning up litter boxes and pet areas on a regular basis
On a regular basis clean can and family pet locations to avoid the buildup of waste and germs. Use pet-safe cleansing products to keep health.
Benefits of proper disposal approaches
Embracing correct disposal techniques for pet waste provides numerous benefits:
Lowered environmental pollution
Proper disposal techniques reduce the danger of environmental pollution, safeguarding waterways and communities from contamination
Decreased danger of water contamination.
By staying clear of flushing pet waste down the toilet, the threat of water contamination is significantly decreased, safeguarding public health.
Boosted hygiene and health
Proper disposal techniques advertise better hygiene and health, producing a safer atmosphere for both humans and animals.
Verdict
To conclude, purging pet waste down the commode is hazardous to the environment and public health. By adopting different disposal methods and adhering to correct waste monitoring practices, we can lessen the unfavorable effect of pet 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
On a regular basis clean can and family pet locations to avoid the buildup of waste and germs. Use pet-safe cleansing products to keep health.
Benefits of proper disposal approaches
Embracing correct disposal techniques for pet waste provides numerous benefits:
Lowered environmental pollution
Proper disposal techniques reduce the danger of environmental pollution, safeguarding waterways and communities from contamination
Decreased danger of water contamination.
By staying clear of flushing pet waste down the toilet, the threat of water contamination is significantly decreased, safeguarding public health.
Boosted hygiene and health
Proper disposal techniques advertise better hygiene and health, producing a safer atmosphere for both humans and animals.
Verdict
To conclude, purging pet waste down the commode is hazardous to the environment and public health. By adopting different disposal methods and adhering to correct waste monitoring practices, we can lessen the unfavorable effect of pet 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
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