The Results of Flushing Animal Waste Down the Toilet
The Results of Flushing Animal Waste Down the Toilet
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What are your ideas on Should you flush animal waste down the toilet?
When it concerns taking care of waste, especially animal waste, many individuals frequently resort to the practical option of flushing it down the bathroom. However, this seemingly very easy solution can have major repercussions for the setting and public health. In this short article, we'll discover why flushing animal waste down the toilet is a poor concept and offer alternative approaches for proper disposal.
Introduction
Appropriate garbage disposal is essential for preserving ecological sustainability and public health. While it might seem harmless to flush animal waste down the toilet, it can cause different concerns, both for the setting and human health.
Risks of flushing animal waste
Environmental impact
Flushing pet waste presents dangerous microorganisms and pathogens into waterways, which can negatively influence marine ecological communities. These microorganisms can contaminate water resources and damage aquatic life, interfering with fragile ecological communities.
Public health problems
Pet waste consists of unsafe bacteria such as E. coli and Salmonella, which can present significant health dangers to humans. Purging animal waste down the toilet can infect water products, resulting in the spread of illness and infections.
Alternatives to flushing
Rather than purging animal waste down the commode, there are a number of different disposal approaches that are extra environmentally friendly and hygienic.
Composting
Composting animal waste is an environment-friendly means to dispose of it. By composting, organic matter is broken down into nutrient-rich dirt, which can be utilized to feed yards and plants.
Garbage dump disposal
Throwing away animal waste in a landfill is one more option. While not as eco-friendly as composting, it is a more secure alternative to flushing, as it protects against the contamination of water resources.
Animal waste disposal systems
There are specialized pet waste disposal systems available that securely and hygienically get rid of pet waste. These systems often use enzymes to break down waste and remove smells.
Actions to correct pet garbage disposal
To make certain appropriate disposal of animal waste, follow these actions:
Scooping and landing waste
Consistently scoop and bag pet waste making use of biodegradable bags. This protects against waste from infecting the environment.
Using designated waste bins
Dispose check here of bagged animal waste in marked waste bins, such as compost containers or garbage dump containers. Prevent flushing it down the commode whatsoever costs.
Cleansing litter boxes and animal locations on a regular basis
Consistently clean can and pet areas to stop the accumulation of waste and bacteria. Usage pet-safe cleansing products to maintain hygiene.
Advantages of correct disposal approaches
Taking on proper disposal techniques for animal waste uses numerous advantages:
Reduced environmental pollution
Proper disposal methods reduce the risk of environmental pollution, safeguarding rivers and environments from contamination
Reduced threat of water contamination.
By preventing flushing pet waste down the toilet, the danger of water contamination is considerably reduced, securing public health.
Improved cleanliness and hygiene
Appropriate disposal approaches advertise better cleanliness and hygiene, producing a much safer environment for both humans and pets.
Final thought
In conclusion, purging pet waste down the toilet is dangerous to the setting and public health. By embracing alternative disposal techniques and complying with proper waste management practices, we can decrease the unfavorable impact of animal waste and contribute 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
Consistently clean can and pet areas to stop the accumulation of waste and bacteria. Usage pet-safe cleansing products to maintain hygiene.
Advantages of correct disposal approaches
Taking on proper disposal techniques for animal waste uses numerous advantages:
Reduced environmental pollution
Proper disposal methods reduce the risk of environmental pollution, safeguarding rivers and environments from contamination
Reduced threat of water contamination.
By preventing flushing pet waste down the toilet, the danger of water contamination is considerably reduced, securing public health.
Improved cleanliness and hygiene
Appropriate disposal approaches advertise better cleanliness and hygiene, producing a much safer environment for both humans and pets.
Final thought
In conclusion, purging pet waste down the toilet is dangerous to the setting and public health. By embracing alternative disposal techniques and complying with proper waste management practices, we can decrease the unfavorable impact of animal waste and contribute 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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