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 about Don't Flush Your Pets Poo Down The Loo, Vet Warns?
When it comes to dealing with waste, specifically animal waste, many individuals usually consider the practical choice of flushing it down the bathroom. Nevertheless, this apparently very easy option can have major effects for the environment and public health. In this short article, we'll discover why flushing pet waste down the toilet is a negative idea and provide different techniques for proper disposal.
Introduction
Appropriate waste disposal is essential for preserving ecological sustainability and public health. While it might seem safe to flush animal waste down the toilet, it can cause numerous issues, both for the setting and human health.
Dangers of flushing animal waste
Environmental influence
Flushing pet waste presents unsafe microorganisms and virus into rivers, which can adversely affect aquatic environments. These pathogens can contaminate water resources and damage marine life, disrupting delicate communities.
Public health concerns
Animal waste contains unsafe microorganisms such as E. coli and Salmonella, which can position significant wellness dangers to human beings. Purging pet waste down the bathroom can contaminate water materials, bring about the spread of illness and infections.
Alternatives to flushing
As opposed to flushing pet waste down the commode, there are several alternative disposal methods that are much more environmentally friendly and hygienic.
Composting
Composting pet waste is an environmentally friendly method to deal with it. By composting, raw material is broken down into nutrient-rich dirt, which can be utilized to fertilize gardens and plants.
Garbage dump disposal
Dealing with pet waste in a landfill is one more option. While not as environmentally friendly as composting, it is a much safer option to flushing, as it protects against the contamination of water sources.
Pet dog waste disposal systems
There are specialized family pet garbage disposal systems readily available that safely and hygienically get rid of pet waste. These systems frequently make use of enzymes to break down waste and get rid of smells.
Steps to correct pet waste disposal
To ensure proper disposal of animal waste, comply with these steps:
Scooping and nabbing waste
Regularly scoop and bag animal waste utilizing naturally degradable bags. This stops waste from contaminating the setting.
Making use of marked waste bins
Dispose of bagged animal waste in designated waste containers, such as compost containers or land fill containers. Avoid flushing it down the commode at all prices.
Cleansing can and pet locations regularly
On a regular basis tidy can and pet dog locations to stop the buildup of waste and microorganisms. Use pet-safe cleansing products to preserve health.
Benefits of correct disposal techniques
Embracing proper disposal techniques for pet waste offers a number of benefits:
Lowered environmental pollution
Correct disposal techniques lower the risk of environmental pollution, shielding waterways and environments from contamination
Minimized threat of water contamination.
By staying clear of flushing pet waste down the commode, the danger of water contamination is significantly lowered, securing public health.
Enhanced hygiene and hygiene
Correct disposal methods advertise much better cleanliness and hygiene, producing a much safer environment for both people and animals.
Conclusion
In conclusion, purging pet waste down the commode is harmful to the environment and public health. By embracing different disposal methods and adhering to correct waste management techniques, we can lessen the unfavorable influence 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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