The Threats of Animal Waste in the Toilet
The Threats of Animal Waste in the Toilet
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The article author is making a few great points about Don't Flush Your Pets Poo Down The Loo, Vet Warns in general in the content further down.
When it comes to disposing of waste, especially animal waste, many people commonly turn to the practical choice of flushing it down the toilet. Nonetheless, this relatively very easy option can have significant repercussions for the setting and public health. In this article, we'll discover why flushing pet waste down the toilet is a bad idea and give alternate methods for correct disposal.
Introduction
Proper garbage disposal is essential for keeping ecological sustainability and public health. While it might seem harmless to flush animal waste down the commode, it can cause different issues, both for the environment and human wellness.
Threats of flushing pet waste
Ecological effect
Purging pet waste introduces dangerous microorganisms and pathogens into rivers, which can adversely influence marine ecosystems. These microorganisms can pollute water sources and damage marine life, disrupting fragile ecosystems.
Public health issues
Pet waste consists of damaging germs such as E. coli and Salmonella, which can pose severe health and wellness threats to humans. Flushing animal waste down the bathroom can pollute water products, resulting in the spread of conditions and infections.
Alternatives to flushing
Rather than flushing animal waste down the toilet, there are several alternative disposal techniques that are extra environmentally friendly and hygienic.
Composting
Composting animal waste is an environmentally friendly method to get rid of it. By composting, organic matter is broken down into nutrient-rich dirt, which can be utilized to feed gardens and plants.
Landfill disposal
Throwing away animal waste in a land fill is one more option. While not as environmentally friendly as composting, it is a safer option to flushing, as it prevents the contamination of water sources.
Pet dog waste disposal systems
There are specific pet waste disposal systems offered that safely and hygienically get rid of pet waste. These systems frequently utilize enzymes to break down waste and remove odors.
Steps to appropriate animal garbage disposal
To make certain appropriate disposal of pet waste, follow these actions:
Scooping and bagging waste
Routinely scoop and bag pet waste using biodegradable bags. This prevents waste from infecting the setting.
Using marked waste bins
Dispose of bagged animal waste in designated waste bins, such as garden compost containers or garbage dump containers. Avoid flushing it down the bathroom at all costs.
Cleansing can and pet areas routinely
Regularly tidy can and pet locations to stop the build-up of waste and microorganisms. Usage pet-safe cleaning products to keep hygiene.
Benefits of proper disposal methods
Taking on correct disposal techniques for animal waste supplies numerous benefits:
Reduced environmental pollution
Correct disposal methods decrease the danger of environmental pollution, safeguarding rivers and environments from contamination
Lessened threat of water contamination.
By avoiding flushing pet waste down the commode, the risk of water contamination is substantially reduced, guarding public health.
Enhanced hygiene and health
Correct disposal approaches advertise far better cleanliness and hygiene, creating a much safer environment for both human beings and pets.
Final thought
Finally, purging animal waste down the toilet is harmful to the setting and public health. By taking on different disposal techniques and following correct waste management techniques, we can reduce the adverse influence of animal waste and add to a cleaner, 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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