Exploring the Hazards of Flushing Animal Waste Down the Toilet
Exploring the Hazards of Flushing Animal Waste Down the Toilet
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Do you find yourself in search of help on Why you should never flush dog poop down the toilet?
When it concerns taking care of waste, specifically animal waste, many people commonly resort to the convenient choice of flushing it down the commode. However, this seemingly easy option can have serious effects for the environment and public health. In this short article, we'll discover why flushing pet waste down the commode is a bad concept and give different methods for proper disposal.
Intro
Correct waste disposal is important for preserving ecological sustainability and public health. While it may appear safe to flush animal waste down the bathroom, it can bring about various concerns, both for the atmosphere and human health.
Threats of flushing pet waste
Ecological influence
Purging pet waste introduces damaging microorganisms and pathogens into waterways, which can negatively impact water communities. These microorganisms can pollute water sources and injury aquatic life, interfering with fragile ecosystems.
Public health concerns
Pet waste has damaging microorganisms such as E. coli and Salmonella, which can pose serious health and wellness threats to people. Flushing pet waste down the commode can contaminate water supplies, leading to the spread of diseases and infections.
Alternatives to flushing
As opposed to purging animal waste down the commode, there are numerous alternate disposal approaches that are extra environmentally friendly and hygienic.
Composting
Composting animal waste is an environmentally friendly method to dispose of it. By composting, organic matter is broken down right into nutrient-rich soil, which can be used to fertilize yards and plants.
Garbage dump disposal
Disposing of pet waste in a garbage dump is another option. While not as eco-friendly as composting, it is a much safer option to flushing, as it stops the contamination of water sources.
Family pet waste disposal systems
There are specific pet dog garbage disposal systems readily available that safely and hygienically take care of pet waste. These systems frequently use enzymes to break down waste and remove smells.
Actions to correct animal garbage disposal
To make certain proper disposal of animal waste, follow these actions:
Scooping and landing waste
Frequently scoop and bag animal waste utilizing eco-friendly bags. This protects against waste from infecting the setting.
Utilizing assigned waste containers
Dispose of bagged animal waste in assigned waste bins, such as compost bins or landfill containers. Prevent flushing it down the toilet whatsoever costs.
Cleaning can and animal areas consistently
On a regular basis tidy litter boxes and family pet locations to stop the accumulation of waste and microorganisms. Use pet-safe cleansing items to preserve health.
Advantages of appropriate disposal techniques
Embracing correct disposal approaches for pet waste supplies a number of benefits:
Minimized environmental pollution
Appropriate disposal approaches decrease the risk of environmental pollution, shielding rivers and ecological communities from contamination
Minimized danger of water contamination.
By staying clear of flushing pet waste down the toilet, the danger of water contamination is substantially decreased, securing public health.
Improved hygiene and health
Appropriate disposal methods advertise far better sanitation and health, developing a more secure environment for both human beings and pets.
Conclusion
To conclude, purging pet waste down the commode is harmful to the atmosphere and public health. By embracing alternative disposal approaches and adhering to proper waste management methods, we can minimize the negative influence of animal waste and contribute to a cleaner, healthier planet.
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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