My Risks of Flushing Animal Waste Down the Toilet
My Risks of Flushing Animal Waste Down the Toilet
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When it comes to throwing away waste, particularly animal waste, lots of people typically consider the hassle-free choice of flushing it down the commode. Nonetheless, this seemingly simple solution can have serious repercussions for the atmosphere and public health. In this short article, we'll explore why flushing pet waste down the toilet is a bad idea and provide different methods for appropriate disposal.
Introduction
Proper garbage disposal is critical for maintaining environmental sustainability and public health. While it may appear safe to flush animal waste down the toilet, it can lead to numerous issues, both for the setting and human health.
Dangers of flushing animal waste
Environmental influence
Purging pet waste presents hazardous bacteria and pathogens right into rivers, which can negatively influence water ecosystems. These pathogens can infect water resources and damage marine life, interrupting delicate ecosystems.
Public health concerns
Animal waste includes dangerous bacteria such as E. coli and Salmonella, which can present significant health and wellness risks to people. Flushing pet waste down the commode can infect water products, leading to the spread of diseases and infections.
Alternatives to flushing
Rather than purging pet waste down the toilet, there are a number of alternative disposal methods that are a lot more environmentally friendly and sanitary.
Composting
Composting animal waste is an eco-friendly way to take care of it. By composting, organic matter is broken down right into nutrient-rich soil, which can be used to feed gardens and plants.
Landfill disposal
Dealing with pet waste in a land fill is another choice. While not as eco-friendly as composting, it is a safer alternative to flushing, as it stops the contamination of water resources.
Animal waste disposal systems
There are customized animal garbage disposal systems readily available that safely and hygienically take care of pet waste. These systems often use enzymes to break down waste and get rid of smells.
Actions to proper animal garbage disposal
To make certain correct disposal of pet waste, follow these steps:
Scooping and bagging waste
Regularly scoop and bag animal waste making use of naturally degradable bags. This prevents waste from polluting the environment.
Utilizing assigned waste bins
Dispose of bagged animal waste in designated waste bins, such as garden compost containers or landfill containers. Prevent flushing it down the toilet in all prices.
Cleaning can and pet locations on a regular basis
Frequently clean can and family pet locations to prevent the accumulation of waste and microorganisms. Usage pet-safe cleaning products to maintain health.
Benefits of proper disposal techniques
Taking on proper disposal approaches for pet waste uses numerous benefits:
Reduced environmental pollution
Appropriate disposal techniques lower the risk of environmental pollution, securing waterways and ecological communities from contamination
Reduced danger of water contamination.
By staying clear of flushing pet waste down the toilet, the threat of water contamination is dramatically minimized, safeguarding public health.
Enhanced sanitation and health
Correct disposal techniques promote much better sanitation and hygiene, producing a much safer environment for both humans and animals.
Verdict
Finally, purging animal waste down the commode is harmful to the atmosphere and public health. By taking on alternative disposal techniques and following correct waste administration practices, we can lessen the adverse effect of animal waste and add 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
Frequently clean can and family pet locations to prevent the accumulation of waste and microorganisms. Usage pet-safe cleaning products to maintain health.
Benefits of proper disposal techniques
Taking on proper disposal approaches for pet waste uses numerous benefits:
Reduced environmental pollution
Appropriate disposal techniques lower the risk of environmental pollution, securing waterways and ecological communities from contamination
Reduced danger of water contamination.
By staying clear of flushing pet waste down the toilet, the threat of water contamination is dramatically minimized, safeguarding public health.
Enhanced sanitation and health
Correct disposal techniques promote much better sanitation and hygiene, producing a much safer environment for both humans and animals.
Verdict
Finally, purging animal waste down the commode is harmful to the atmosphere and public health. By taking on alternative disposal techniques and following correct waste administration practices, we can lessen the adverse effect of animal waste and add 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
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