Discovering the Risks of Flushing Animal Waste Down the Toilet
Discovering the Risks of Flushing Animal Waste Down the Toilet
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What are your thoughts on Don't Flush Your Pets Poo Down The Loo, Vet Warns?
When it comes to disposing of waste, specifically animal waste, lots of people often consider the practical alternative of flushing it down the bathroom. Nonetheless, this relatively simple option can have significant repercussions for the setting and public health. In this short article, we'll discover why flushing animal waste down the bathroom is a poor idea and offer different approaches for proper disposal.
Intro
Proper waste disposal is critical for preserving ecological sustainability and public health. While it might appear harmless to purge animal waste down the bathroom, it can cause numerous concerns, both for the setting and human well-being.
Risks of flushing animal waste
Environmental effect
Flushing animal waste presents hazardous bacteria and virus right into rivers, which can adversely impact aquatic ecosystems. These virus can infect water sources and harm marine life, interfering with delicate communities.
Public health concerns
Pet waste contains dangerous germs such as E. coli and Salmonella, which can posture serious health risks to human beings. Flushing animal waste down the commode can pollute water supplies, resulting in the spread of conditions and infections.
Alternatives to flushing
Instead of purging pet waste down the commode, there are numerous different disposal techniques that are more eco-friendly and hygienic.
Composting
Composting animal waste is an environmentally friendly means to throw away it. By composting, raw material is broken down into nutrient-rich dirt, which can be used to fertilize gardens and plants.
Land fill disposal
Getting rid of pet waste in a garbage dump is another choice. While not as environmentally friendly as composting, it is a safer choice to flushing, as it stops the contamination of water resources.
Animal garbage disposal systems
There are customized pet dog waste disposal systems available that securely and hygienically take care of pet waste. These systems typically use enzymes to break down waste and remove smells.
Steps to proper animal garbage disposal
To make sure correct disposal of animal waste, comply with these actions:
Scooping and bagging waste
On a regular basis scoop and bag pet waste using eco-friendly bags. This prevents waste from contaminating the environment.
Using marked waste bins
Dispose of bagged pet waste in designated waste containers, such as compost containers or garbage dump containers. Stay clear of flushing it down the commode in all expenses.
Cleaning litter boxes and pet areas routinely
Consistently tidy litter boxes and pet locations to stop the build-up of waste and germs. Usage pet-safe cleaning products to preserve health.
Benefits of appropriate disposal techniques
Adopting appropriate disposal techniques for animal waste uses numerous benefits:
Minimized environmental pollution
Proper disposal methods minimize the danger of environmental pollution, safeguarding rivers and ecosystems from contamination
Lessened danger of water contamination.
By avoiding flushing pet waste down the bathroom, the risk of water contamination is considerably reduced, protecting public health.
Improved cleanliness and hygiene
Correct disposal approaches advertise better hygiene and hygiene, developing a much safer environment for both people and pets.
Final thought
To conclude, purging pet waste down the toilet is damaging to the atmosphere and public health. By taking on different disposal techniques and following correct waste management techniques, we can minimize the adverse effect 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
Consistently tidy litter boxes and pet locations to stop the build-up of waste and germs. Usage pet-safe cleaning products to preserve health.
Benefits of appropriate disposal techniques
Adopting appropriate disposal techniques for animal waste uses numerous benefits:
Minimized environmental pollution
Proper disposal methods minimize the danger of environmental pollution, safeguarding rivers and ecosystems from contamination
Lessened danger of water contamination.
By avoiding flushing pet waste down the bathroom, the risk of water contamination is considerably reduced, protecting public health.
Improved cleanliness and hygiene
Correct disposal approaches advertise better hygiene and hygiene, developing a much safer environment for both people and pets.
Final thought
To conclude, purging pet waste down the toilet is damaging to the atmosphere and public health. By taking on different disposal techniques and following correct waste management techniques, we can minimize the adverse effect 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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