Learning the Hazards of Flushing Animal Waste Down the Toilet
Learning the Hazards of Flushing Animal Waste Down the Toilet
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Just about every person may have their own unique piece of advice involving Why you should never flush dog poop down the toilet.
When it pertains to throwing away waste, especially animal waste, many individuals commonly consider the convenient alternative of flushing it down the commode. However, this apparently very easy option can have severe effects for the environment and public health. In this write-up, we'll explore why flushing pet waste down the toilet is a negative idea and give alternate approaches for appropriate disposal.
Introduction
Appropriate garbage disposal is critical for keeping ecological sustainability and public health. While it might appear safe to flush animal waste down the bathroom, it can cause different issues, both for the setting and human well-being.
Risks of flushing pet waste
Ecological influence
Flushing pet waste introduces damaging bacteria and virus into waterways, which can adversely affect water ecological communities. These pathogens can pollute water resources and harm marine life, disrupting fragile communities.
Public health issues
Pet waste has harmful bacteria such as E. coli and Salmonella, which can posture major health risks to people. Flushing animal waste down the toilet can pollute water materials, causing the spread of diseases and infections.
Alternatives to flushing
Instead of purging pet waste down the toilet, there are numerous alternate disposal methods that are much more environmentally friendly and sanitary.
Composting
Composting pet waste is an environment-friendly means to throw away it. By composting, organic matter is broken down into nutrient-rich dirt, which can be utilized to fertilize yards and plants.
Garbage dump disposal
Throwing away pet waste in a landfill is one more choice. While not as eco-friendly as composting, it is a more secure alternative to flushing, as it protects against the contamination of water sources.
Animal waste disposal systems
There are specific family pet waste disposal systems available that safely and hygienically take care of animal waste. These systems commonly make use of enzymes to break down waste and remove smells.
Steps to correct animal waste disposal
To ensure appropriate disposal of pet waste, adhere to these actions:
Scooping and nabbing waste
Routinely scoop and bag animal waste making use of biodegradable bags. This prevents waste from infecting the environment.
Using designated waste bins
Dispose of bagged pet waste in designated waste containers, such as compost containers or garbage dump containers. Prevent flushing it down the toilet in all expenses.
Cleaning up litter boxes and family pet areas routinely
Consistently clean can and family pet areas to prevent the buildup of waste and germs. Usage pet-safe cleaning items to maintain health.
Advantages of proper disposal techniques
Embracing appropriate disposal methods for animal waste supplies a number of advantages:
Reduced environmental pollution
Proper disposal methods lower the risk of environmental pollution, shielding waterways and ecological communities from contamination
Lessened risk of water contamination.
By avoiding flushing animal waste down the commode, the risk of water contamination is significantly minimized, securing public health.
Improved sanitation and health
Proper disposal approaches promote better sanitation and health, creating a safer atmosphere for both humans and pets.
Final thought
Finally, flushing pet waste down the bathroom is hazardous to the setting and public health. By embracing different disposal techniques and following proper waste administration practices, we can minimize the negative impact of pet waste and add 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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