The best way to dispose of dog poop that’s green the our earth is actually to flush dog waste down the toilet.  A lot of pet owners are switching to flushable dog poop bags because they know throwing dog poop bags in the trash ultimately is making landfills more crowded. Nothing biodegrades in landfills, even banana peels. Our landfills are too tightly packed for air to go inside the piles of trash and start the biodegradation process. Check out the flushable dog poop bags. They are really the best answer for dipsosing of dog poop.

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Pet
Waste: Dealing with a Real Problem

Pet
waste is not the predominant or most toxic pollutant in urban streams,
but it is one of many small sources of pollution that can cumulatively
have a big impact if left unmanaged. The New Jersey Department of Health
has estimated that there are over 500,000 dogs in the state.
Add to this figure cats and other smaller pets, and a significant volume
of waste is being generated daily.

Pet
waste contains bacteria and parasites, as well as organic matter and
nutrients, notably nitrogen and phosphorous.

Some
of the diseases that can be spread from pet waste are:

• Campylobacteriosis-
  a bacterial infection that causes diarrhea in humans.

• Salmonellosis-
  the most common bacterial infection transmitted to humans from animals.
  Symptoms include fever, muscle aches, headache, vomiting, and diarrhea.

• Toxocarisis-
  roundworms transmitted from animals to humans. Symptoms include
  vision loss, rash, fever, or cough.

In addition to these
diseases, the organic matter and nutrients contained in pet waste can
degrade water quality. When pet waste is washed into a surface water
body, the waste decays. This process of breaking down the organic matter
in the waste uses up dissolved oxygen and releases ammonia. Low oxygen
levels, increased ammonia and warm summer water temperatures can kill
fish.

Excess phosphorous
and nitrogen added to surface waters can lead to cloudy, green water
from accelerated algae and weed growth. Decay of this extra organic
matter can depress oxygen levels, killing organisms. Objectionable odors
can also occur.

Flies and other
pest insects can also increase when pet waste is disposed of improperly,
becoming a nuisance and adding another vector for disease transmission.

Managing pet waste
properly is something that everyone can do to make a difference in their
respective watersheds. Truly, proper individual actions result in significant
water quality improvement when carried out by the majority. Unlike some
forms of stormwater pollutants, pet waste can be easily and economically
managed by the individual.

Sometimes, the ‘out
of sight, out of mind’ attitude exists regarding pet waste. Employing
this flawed thinking, waste is often disposed of in the street stormwater
catch basin. Aside from dumping directly into a water body, this is
the single worst place to dispose of waste. In the next rainstorm,
the accumulated waste is transported quickly and efficiently to the
nearby receiving water course, polluting it. Water quality monitoring
studies in New Jersey have emphasized this specific problem. That said,
then, specifically what can be done?

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Proper Onsite Disposal

Flush it

Pet waste itself (not the litter or bedding material) can be flushed down the toilet. The water from the toilet goes either to a septic system onsite or a sewage treatment plant that removes most pollutants before the water reaches its outlet. The used litter should be disposed of in a securely closed bag in the trash.

Bury it

A good option is to install an underground pet waste digester in the yard (Doggie Dooley or equivalent  Before buying one, check with your local health official to ensure that it is permitted, and if there are site location restrictions.
You can also bury the waste directly in the yard. Dig a hole or trench that is 6 inches deep, away from vegetable gardens, play areas, and away from any lake, stream, or well. Often, the woods is an ideal spot. Microorganisms in the top layer of soil will break down and digest the waste, releasing the nutrients for uptake by adjacent vegetation.
Never add the waste as a fertilizer to the garden or to the compost pile. The disease organisms will continue to survive and create a significant health risk.

Trash it

Check local ordinances first. Putting pet waste in the trash is against the law in some communities. Even if legal and easy, it’s not the best solution. Waste can contribute to the landfill problems in the state.

Leave it to someone else

Believe it or not, a number of professional pet waste disposal services exist in New Jersey. These businesses will completely remove the waste from your yard and dispose of it themselves, for a fee.
If you leave the waste to decay in the yard, be sure it does not become a problem. To prevent water pollution, clean up areas near shallow wells, storm drains, ditches, and watercourses. Always remove pet waste from areas where children play….for obvious reasons, kids are the most frequent victims of diseases from feces.

Odinances, signage and education

Many communities have “pooper-scooper” laws that govern pet waste cleanup. Some of these laws specifically require anyone who walks an animal off of their property to carry a bag, shovel, or scooper. Any waste left by the animal must be cleaned up immediately. Call your local health officer to find out more about pet waste regulations.
In recreation areas, trails, and public parks, ‘scooper signage’ along with plastic bag dispensers and disposal cans should be provided. This idea is especially critical at streamside or lake shore walking trails.
Public education is critical when addressing the pet waste problem. Interestingly, much of the public thinks of problems associated with pet waste as being only nuisance related-odors or aesthetics. An actual example of this is the woman walking her dog in the park who had brought along a brown paper bag to collect the 150 pound mastiff’s waste. This she indeed dutifully did, and then proceeded to dispose of the bag by….tossing it into the lake!

Brochures, newsletters, signage, local public service announcements, and evening seminars are all ways to get the word out to the public. One very effective way to reach people is to have a flyer enclosed in tax bills or other municipally-generated mailings that go to all property owners.

Conclusion

The problem of pet waste disposal in suburbia is a real one. Research has indicated strongly that water quality is negatively impacted by this pollutant in New Jersey. However, unlike many other sources of water degradation in the state, improper pet waste management is a dilemma that can be easily corrected through education by organizations and common sense actions by individuals.

There are a number of ways to prevent fleas and ticks naturally. Your dog can greatly benefit from having garlic as a part of their diet. The recommended dosage is 2 grams per 40 lbs. It is imperative that you do not overdo the garlic. There are also supplements made with Brewers yeast and garlic which is another great option. It releases a natural odor from your pet’s skin that is detected by the pests and drives them away. It also is a great way to strengthen a dog’s heart and immune system.
If your dog does develop itchy areas, or hot spots, a spray bottle of one part vinegar and one part water can be made. You can spray it directly on the affected area or soak a cotton ball and dab it on to soothe and heal it faster. It doesn’t pose any danger if your dog happens to lick the area.

A solution of one part lemon juice and one part water can be made to spray on your dog before going outside. This is one of the best ways to keep fleas and ticks away. Be sure to keep lemon juice and vinegar away from your dog’s eyes.

It is best to always speak with your vet if you do choose any alternative methods of treatment. These simple prevention techniques can be used to not only keep your dog safe from pests but to, more importantly, keep them healthy while doing it.

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Animal waste collection as a pollution source control involves using a combination of educational outreach and enforcement to encourage residents to clean up after their pets. The presence of pet waste in stormwater runoff has a number of implications for urban stream water quality with perhaps the greatest impact from fecal bacteria (for more information see Microbes in Urban Watersheds: Concentrations, Sources and Pathways, Article 17 in The Practice of Watershed Protection). According to recent research, non-human waste represents a significant source of bacterial contamination in urban watersheds. Genetic studies by Alderiso et al. (1996) and Trial et al. (1993) both concluded that 95 percent of the fecal coliform found in urban stormwater was of non-human origin. Bacterial source tracking studies in a watershed in the Seattle, Washington area also found that nearly 20% of the bacteria isolates that could be matched with host animals were matched with dogs. This bacteria can pose health risks to humans and other animals, and result in the spread of disease. It has been estimated that for watersheds of up to twenty-square miles draining to small coastal bays, two to three days of droppings from a population of about 100 dogs would contribute enough bacteria and nutrients to temporarily close a bay to swimming and shellfishing (US EPA, 1993).

Source:

http://www.stormwatercenter.net/Pollution_Prevention_Factsheets/AnimalWasteCollection.htm

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