The Hazards of Flushing Animal Waste Down the Toilet
The Hazards of Flushing Animal Waste Down the Toilet
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How do you actually feel about Can You Flush Dog and Cat Poo Down the Toilet??
When it comes to dealing with waste, particularly animal waste, many people frequently turn to the hassle-free option of flushing it down the bathroom. However, this seemingly very easy solution can have significant repercussions for the setting and public health. In this short article, we'll discover why flushing pet waste down the bathroom is a negative idea and offer different methods for appropriate disposal.
Introduction
Proper garbage disposal is crucial for maintaining ecological sustainability and public health. While it may seem harmless to purge animal waste down the toilet, it can bring about numerous issues, both for the atmosphere and human health.
Risks of flushing pet waste
Ecological influence
Flushing animal waste presents damaging microorganisms and microorganisms right into waterways, which can negatively affect water communities. These virus can pollute water resources and damage marine life, interrupting fragile ecological communities.
Public health problems
Pet waste has hazardous bacteria such as E. coli and Salmonella, which can posture serious wellness risks to humans. Flushing pet waste down the commode can contaminate water supplies, causing the spread of diseases and infections.
Alternatives to flushing
Instead of flushing animal waste down the bathroom, there are numerous different disposal methods that are much more environmentally friendly and hygienic.
Composting
Composting animal waste is an environmentally friendly method to throw away it. By composting, raw material is broken down right into nutrient-rich soil, which can be made use of to fertilize yards and plants.
Garbage dump disposal
Getting rid of pet waste in a land fill is one more alternative. While not as environmentally friendly as composting, it is a safer alternative to flushing, as it protects against the contamination of water resources.
Family pet garbage disposal systems
There are specific pet waste disposal systems available that safely and hygienically deal with animal waste. These systems typically utilize enzymes to break down waste and get rid of odors.
Actions to correct animal garbage disposal
To make certain correct disposal of animal waste, adhere to these actions:
Scooping and landing waste
On a regular basis scoop and bag pet waste using biodegradable bags. This prevents waste from infecting the environment.
Using designated waste containers
Dispose of bagged pet waste in assigned waste containers, such as garden compost containers or garbage dump bins. Stay clear of flushing it down the bathroom at all prices.
Cleaning up litter boxes and animal locations regularly
Frequently tidy can and animal locations to avoid the accumulation of waste and microorganisms. Usage pet-safe cleansing products to keep hygiene.
Advantages of correct disposal techniques
Adopting correct disposal methods for animal waste offers numerous advantages:
Lowered environmental pollution
Appropriate disposal approaches reduce the danger of environmental pollution, safeguarding waterways and environments from contamination
Minimized danger of water contamination.
By avoiding flushing pet waste down the bathroom, the threat of water contamination is dramatically reduced, safeguarding public health.
Boosted sanitation and hygiene
Proper disposal approaches promote better cleanliness and health, developing a more secure atmosphere for both humans and animals.
Conclusion
Finally, flushing pet waste down the bathroom is harmful to the atmosphere and public health. By taking on alternate disposal methods and adhering to correct waste management techniques, we can minimize the negative impact of pet waste and contribute 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
Frequently tidy can and animal locations to avoid the accumulation of waste and microorganisms. Usage pet-safe cleansing products to keep hygiene.
Advantages of correct disposal techniques
Adopting correct disposal methods for animal waste offers numerous advantages:
Lowered environmental pollution
Appropriate disposal approaches reduce the danger of environmental pollution, safeguarding waterways and environments from contamination
Minimized danger of water contamination.
By avoiding flushing pet waste down the bathroom, the threat of water contamination is dramatically reduced, safeguarding public health.
Boosted sanitation and hygiene
Proper disposal approaches promote better cleanliness and health, developing a more secure atmosphere for both humans and animals.
Conclusion
Finally, flushing pet waste down the bathroom is harmful to the atmosphere and public health. By taking on alternate disposal methods and adhering to correct waste management techniques, we can minimize the negative impact of pet waste and contribute 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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