Understanding the Harms of Flushing Animal Waste Down the Toilet
Understanding the Harms of Flushing Animal Waste Down the Toilet
Blog Article
Everyone has got their unique perception in relation to Can You Flush Dog and Cat Poo Down the Toilet?.
When it concerns taking care of waste, especially animal waste, lots of people often resort to the practical choice of flushing it down the toilet. Nevertheless, this seemingly easy solution can have serious repercussions for the environment and public health. In this short article, we'll explore why flushing pet waste down the toilet is a negative idea and give different methods for appropriate disposal.
Intro
Appropriate garbage disposal is vital for maintaining environmental sustainability and public health. While it may appear safe to purge animal waste down the commode, it can bring about various issues, both for the environment and human wellness.
Dangers of flushing animal waste
Environmental influence
Flushing pet waste presents dangerous germs and pathogens right into rivers, which can negatively affect water environments. These microorganisms can contaminate water sources and damage marine life, disrupting fragile environments.
Public health worries
Animal waste includes unsafe germs such as E. coli and Salmonella, which can posture severe health threats to human beings. Purging pet waste down the toilet can pollute water products, resulting in the spread of diseases and infections.
Alternatives to flushing
Rather than purging animal waste down the toilet, there are a number of alternate disposal methods that are a lot more eco-friendly and hygienic.
Composting
Composting animal waste is a green means to take care of it. By composting, raw material is broken down into nutrient-rich soil, which can be used to fertilize yards and plants.
Land fill disposal
Dealing with animal waste in a landfill is one more option. While not as environmentally friendly as composting, it is a safer option to flushing, as it avoids the contamination of water sources.
Animal garbage disposal systems
There are specialized pet dog waste disposal systems readily available that securely and hygienically dispose of animal waste. These systems frequently utilize enzymes to break down waste and remove smells.
Steps to appropriate pet waste disposal
To make sure correct disposal of pet waste, comply with these steps:
Scooping and getting waste
Routinely scoop and bag pet waste utilizing biodegradable bags. This prevents waste from infecting the atmosphere.
Utilizing marked waste bins
Dispose of bagged pet waste in assigned waste containers, such as compost bins or land fill containers. Prevent flushing it down the toilet whatsoever costs.
Cleaning can and pet locations frequently
Consistently clean litter boxes and pet dog locations to prevent the accumulation of waste and germs. Usage pet-safe cleaning products to maintain health.
Advantages of appropriate disposal techniques
Embracing appropriate disposal techniques for animal waste offers a number of advantages:
Minimized environmental pollution
Correct disposal techniques decrease the risk of environmental pollution, safeguarding rivers and ecological communities from contamination
Minimized risk of water contamination.
By staying clear of flushing animal waste down the commode, the risk of water contamination is considerably lowered, guarding public health.
Enhanced hygiene and health
Correct disposal techniques promote better cleanliness and health, developing a much safer setting for both human beings and pets.
Conclusion
In conclusion, flushing pet waste down the toilet is harmful to the setting and public health. By adopting different disposal approaches and adhering to correct waste monitoring methods, we can lessen the unfavorable impact of animal waste and contribute to a cleaner, much 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
Hopefully you enjoyed our piece on Don't Flush Your Pets Poo Down The Loo, Vet Warns. Thanks a lot for finding the time to browse our article post. Do you know about another person who is enthusiastic about the subject? Why not share it. Thank-you for taking the time to read it.
Request Your Service Report this page