The Hazards of Flushing Animal Waste Down the Toilet
The Hazards of Flushing Animal Waste Down the Toilet
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We've stumbled on this post involving Can You Flush Dog and Cat Poo Down the Toilet? directly below on the web and believe it made good sense to write about it with you on my blog.
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When it involves dealing with waste, particularly animal waste, lots of people commonly consider the practical option of flushing it down the bathroom. Nevertheless, this relatively simple option can have major consequences for the setting and public health. In this post, we'll explore why flushing pet waste down the toilet is a bad concept and provide different techniques for appropriate disposal.
Intro
Correct garbage disposal is crucial for keeping ecological sustainability and public health. While it may appear harmless to purge animal waste down the bathroom, it can lead to numerous issues, both for the environment and human wellness.
Threats of flushing pet waste
Ecological impact
Purging pet waste introduces unsafe bacteria and virus into rivers, which can negatively impact water environments. These pathogens can pollute water sources and damage aquatic life, interrupting fragile ecosystems.
Public health problems
Pet waste consists of dangerous germs such as E. coli and Salmonella, which can pose major health dangers to humans. Purging animal waste down the bathroom can infect water supplies, leading to the spread of conditions and infections.
Alternatives to flushing
As opposed to purging animal waste down the commode, there are several alternate disposal approaches that are extra eco-friendly and hygienic.
Composting
Composting animal waste is an environmentally friendly way to throw away it. By composting, organic matter is broken down into nutrient-rich soil, which can be made use of to feed yards and plants.
Land fill disposal
Dealing with pet waste in a garbage dump is another alternative. While not as environmentally friendly as composting, it is a more secure option to flushing, as it prevents the contamination of water sources.
Animal waste disposal systems
There are customized animal waste disposal systems offered that safely and hygienically throw away animal waste. These systems commonly use enzymes to break down waste and get rid of odors.
Actions to correct pet garbage disposal
To guarantee appropriate disposal of animal waste, adhere to these actions:
Scooping and getting waste
Routinely scoop and bag pet waste utilizing naturally degradable bags. This avoids waste from polluting the environment.
Using assigned waste containers
Dispose of bagged pet waste in assigned waste containers, such as compost containers or garbage dump containers. Avoid flushing it down the commode whatsoever prices.
Cleaning litter boxes and pet dog locations regularly
Consistently tidy can and pet locations to stop the build-up of waste and microorganisms. Usage pet-safe cleaning products to maintain health.
Benefits of correct disposal approaches
Embracing proper disposal methods for pet waste uses numerous advantages:
Reduced environmental pollution
Appropriate disposal techniques reduce the threat of environmental pollution, protecting waterways and environments from contamination
Lessened threat of water contamination.
By staying clear of flushing pet waste down the bathroom, the risk of water contamination is significantly minimized, securing public health.
Boosted cleanliness and hygiene
Appropriate disposal approaches advertise far better sanitation and hygiene, developing a safer atmosphere for both human beings and pets.
Conclusion
In conclusion, flushing animal waste down the commode is dangerous to the atmosphere and public health. By taking on alternate disposal methods and complying with appropriate waste monitoring techniques, we can decrease the unfavorable influence of animal waste and contribute 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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