Why Flushing Animal Waste Down the Toilet Could be Harmful
Why Flushing Animal Waste Down the Toilet Could be Harmful
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Just how do you really feel in regards to Can You Flush Dog and Cat Poo Down the Toilet??
When it pertains to taking care of waste, especially animal waste, many individuals often resort to the hassle-free option of flushing it down the bathroom. Nevertheless, this seemingly simple option can have serious repercussions for the atmosphere and public health. In this write-up, we'll explore why flushing animal waste down the bathroom is a negative idea and supply alternative approaches for appropriate disposal.
Intro
Appropriate waste disposal is essential for keeping environmental sustainability and public health. While it may seem harmless to flush animal waste down the bathroom, it can lead to different issues, both for the setting and human wellness.
Threats of flushing pet waste
Ecological effect
Flushing pet waste introduces unsafe microorganisms and virus right into waterways, which can negatively impact marine ecological communities. These microorganisms can contaminate water sources and damage aquatic life, disrupting delicate ecosystems.
Public health problems
Pet waste contains dangerous microorganisms such as E. coli and Salmonella, which can pose serious wellness dangers to people. Purging pet waste down the commode can pollute water supplies, leading to the spread of diseases and infections.
Alternatives to flushing
Instead of flushing pet waste down the bathroom, there are a number of alternative disposal approaches that are extra eco-friendly and hygienic.
Composting
Composting animal waste is an environment-friendly method to take care of it. By composting, raw material is broken down into nutrient-rich soil, which can be used to feed yards and plants.
Garbage dump disposal
Getting rid of animal waste in a landfill is another option. While not as environmentally friendly as composting, it is a more secure alternative to flushing, as it stops the contamination of water resources.
Pet dog waste disposal systems
There are specific family pet waste disposal systems available that securely and hygienically dispose of animal waste. These systems often use enzymes to break down waste and get rid of smells.
Steps to correct animal waste disposal
To guarantee correct disposal of animal waste, follow these steps:
Scooping and getting waste
Frequently scoop and bag animal waste making use of biodegradable bags. This protects against waste from infecting the setting.
Utilizing marked waste bins
Dispose of bagged animal waste in marked waste bins, such as compost containers or garbage dump containers. Avoid flushing it down the toilet in all costs.
Cleansing litter boxes and family pet areas frequently
Frequently clean can and family pet areas to stop the buildup of waste and germs. Use pet-safe cleansing items to keep hygiene.
Advantages of proper disposal methods
Embracing proper disposal approaches for pet waste provides a number of advantages:
Minimized environmental pollution
Proper disposal techniques decrease the danger of environmental pollution, protecting waterways and environments from contamination
Minimized risk of water contamination.
By preventing flushing pet waste down the toilet, the danger of water contamination is dramatically minimized, protecting public health.
Enhanced hygiene and health
Proper disposal methods advertise better hygiene and hygiene, creating a more secure setting for both human beings and pets.
Verdict
To conclude, flushing pet waste down the toilet is dangerous to the setting and public health. By embracing alternate disposal methods and adhering to correct waste administration practices, we can minimize the adverse influence of animal waste and add 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
Frequently clean can and family pet areas to stop the buildup of waste and germs. Use pet-safe cleansing items to keep hygiene.
Advantages of proper disposal methods
Embracing proper disposal approaches for pet waste provides a number of advantages:
Minimized environmental pollution
Proper disposal techniques decrease the danger of environmental pollution, protecting waterways and environments from contamination
Minimized risk of water contamination.
By preventing flushing pet waste down the toilet, the danger of water contamination is dramatically minimized, protecting public health.
Enhanced hygiene and health
Proper disposal methods advertise better hygiene and hygiene, creating a more secure setting for both human beings and pets.
Verdict
To conclude, flushing pet waste down the toilet is dangerous to the setting and public health. By embracing alternate disposal methods and adhering to correct waste administration practices, we can minimize the adverse influence of animal waste and add 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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