Have you been searching for advise about Should you flush animal waste down the toilet?
When it concerns disposing of waste, particularly animal waste, many people usually resort to the convenient alternative of flushing it down the bathroom. Nevertheless, this relatively simple service can have severe repercussions for the setting and public health. In this article, we'll explore why flushing pet waste down the bathroom is a negative concept and offer alternate approaches for correct disposal.
Introduction
Proper garbage disposal is vital for maintaining ecological sustainability and public health. While it might appear safe to purge animal waste down the toilet, it can bring about numerous issues, both for the environment and human well-being.
Threats of flushing animal waste
Environmental influence
Flushing animal waste presents hazardous germs and microorganisms right into waterways, which can adversely affect aquatic communities. These pathogens can contaminate water sources and damage aquatic life, interfering with delicate communities.
Public health worries
Pet waste has damaging microorganisms such as E. coli and Salmonella, which can posture significant wellness risks to human beings. Flushing pet waste down the toilet can pollute water products, causing the spread of conditions and infections.
Alternatives to flushing
Instead of flushing animal waste down the commode, there are a number of alternate disposal methods that are more environmentally friendly and hygienic.
Composting
Composting pet waste is an environment-friendly means to dispose of it. By composting, raw material is broken down right into nutrient-rich dirt, which can be used to fertilize gardens and plants.
Landfill disposal
Dealing with animal waste in a land fill is one more option. While not as environmentally friendly as composting, it is a much safer option to flushing, as it protects against the contamination of water sources.
Animal garbage disposal systems
There are customized family pet waste disposal systems offered that securely and hygienically deal with animal waste. These systems usually utilize enzymes to break down waste and get rid of smells.
Steps to appropriate pet waste disposal
To make sure proper disposal of pet waste, adhere to these steps:
Scooping and bagging waste
On a regular basis scoop and bag animal waste using biodegradable bags. This stops waste from polluting the environment.
Making use of assigned waste containers
Dispose of bagged animal waste in assigned waste bins, such as garden compost containers or landfill bins. Avoid flushing it down the toilet whatsoever costs.
Cleansing can and pet locations on a regular basis
On a regular basis tidy can and pet locations to stop the accumulation of waste and germs. Usage pet-safe cleansing products to keep health.
Advantages of correct disposal methods
Embracing appropriate disposal approaches for animal waste provides a number of advantages:
Minimized environmental pollution
Proper disposal techniques reduce the threat of environmental pollution, shielding rivers and ecosystems from contamination
Reduced risk of water contamination.
By staying clear of flushing animal waste down the toilet, the danger of water contamination is dramatically decreased, securing public health.
Boosted hygiene and hygiene
Proper disposal techniques advertise better sanitation and health, creating a safer setting for both human beings and pets.
Final thought
Finally, flushing animal waste down the bathroom is damaging to the atmosphere and public health. By embracing different disposal methods and complying with appropriate waste management methods, we can decrease the unfavorable impact of pet waste and contribute to a cleaner, much 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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