Discovering the Dangers of Flushing Animal Waste Down the Toilet
Discovering the Dangers of Flushing Animal Waste Down the Toilet
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When it comes to taking care of waste, particularly animal waste, many individuals commonly consider the hassle-free option of flushing it down the toilet. Nevertheless, this relatively simple option can have significant effects for the atmosphere and public health. In this post, we'll check out why flushing animal waste down the commode is a bad concept and give alternate methods for correct disposal.
Intro
Correct garbage disposal is important for keeping environmental sustainability and public health. While it might appear harmless to flush animal waste down the bathroom, it can bring about various concerns, both for the environment and human health.
Dangers of flushing pet waste
Environmental impact
Flushing animal waste introduces hazardous germs and microorganisms right into waterways, which can adversely affect aquatic ecological communities. These virus can pollute water sources and harm aquatic life, interfering with fragile communities.
Public health issues
Pet waste has damaging microorganisms such as E. coli and Salmonella, which can present major wellness dangers to human beings. Purging animal waste down the commode can contaminate water materials, resulting in the spread of conditions and infections.
Alternatives to flushing
Rather than flushing animal waste down the bathroom, there are a number of different disposal approaches that are more environmentally friendly and hygienic.
Composting
Composting animal waste is an environment-friendly method to deal with it. By composting, raw material is broken down right into nutrient-rich soil, which can be used to fertilize yards and plants.
Land fill disposal
Disposing of animal waste in a land fill is another option. While not as environmentally friendly as composting, it is a safer choice to flushing, as it protects against the contamination of water resources.
Family pet waste disposal systems
There are specific pet garbage disposal systems readily available that securely and hygienically deal with animal waste. These systems often make use of enzymes to break down waste and get rid of odors.
Actions to appropriate pet waste disposal
To ensure correct disposal of pet waste, comply with these steps:
Scooping and getting waste
Consistently scoop and bag pet waste utilizing naturally degradable bags. This stops waste from polluting the atmosphere.
Using assigned waste containers
Dispose of bagged animal waste in marked waste bins, such as garden compost containers or landfill bins. Avoid flushing it down the bathroom at all expenses.
Cleansing litter boxes and animal areas frequently
Consistently tidy can and pet locations to stop the buildup of waste and bacteria. Use pet-safe cleaning products to keep health.
Benefits of appropriate disposal approaches
Embracing appropriate disposal approaches for animal waste provides several advantages:
Lowered environmental pollution
Correct disposal techniques decrease the threat of environmental pollution, safeguarding rivers and ecosystems from contamination
Minimized threat of water contamination.
By avoiding flushing animal waste down the toilet, the threat of water contamination is considerably decreased, securing public health.
Boosted sanitation and health
Appropriate disposal methods advertise better sanitation and hygiene, creating a safer atmosphere for both people and pets.
Verdict
Finally, flushing pet waste down the bathroom is unsafe to the atmosphere and public health. By embracing different disposal techniques and complying with appropriate waste management practices, we can lessen the adverse effect of pet waste and add to a cleaner, much 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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