Understanding the Dangers of Flushing Animal Waste Down the Toilet
Understanding the Dangers of Flushing Animal Waste Down the Toilet
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The writer is making a few good points about Why you should never flush dog poop down the toilet overall in this great article underneath.
When it concerns getting rid of waste, specifically animal waste, many individuals commonly turn to the convenient alternative of flushing it down the bathroom. However, this apparently very easy remedy can have major consequences for the setting and public health. In this short article, we'll discover why flushing pet waste down the toilet is a poor concept and offer alternate methods for proper disposal.
Introduction
Correct waste disposal is vital for maintaining ecological sustainability and public health. While it might appear safe to purge animal waste down the toilet, it can cause numerous issues, both for the environment and human well-being.
Threats of flushing pet waste
Environmental effect
Flushing animal waste presents dangerous germs and microorganisms into waterways, which can adversely affect aquatic ecosystems. These virus can infect water sources and injury aquatic life, disrupting fragile ecosystems.
Public health concerns
Animal waste has damaging microorganisms such as E. coli and Salmonella, which can pose severe health and wellness dangers to human beings. Flushing animal waste down the bathroom can infect water supplies, bring about the spread of diseases and infections.
Alternatives to flushing
Instead of flushing animal waste down the toilet, there are several alternate disposal techniques that are extra eco-friendly and hygienic.
Composting
Composting pet waste is an environmentally friendly means to get rid of it. By composting, organic matter is broken down right into nutrient-rich dirt, which can be used to feed gardens and plants.
Landfill disposal
Throwing away animal waste in a land fill is one more option. While not as environmentally friendly as composting, it is a safer option to flushing, as it prevents the contamination of water sources.
Pet waste disposal systems
There are specific animal waste disposal systems offered that securely and hygienically get rid of animal waste. These systems often use enzymes to break down waste and remove smells.
Steps to correct pet waste disposal
To ensure proper disposal of animal waste, comply with these steps:
Scooping and landing waste
On a regular basis scoop and bag animal waste making use of naturally degradable bags. This stops waste from polluting the environment.
Making use of assigned waste containers
Dispose of bagged animal waste in designated waste bins, such as compost containers or landfill bins. Prevent flushing it down the commode in any way costs.
Cleaning litter boxes and pet dog locations on a regular basis
Frequently tidy can and animal areas to prevent the build-up of waste and bacteria. Usage pet-safe cleaning products to keep health.
Benefits of correct disposal approaches
Taking on appropriate disposal techniques for pet waste supplies a number of benefits:
Reduced environmental pollution
Appropriate disposal methods lower the danger of environmental pollution, protecting rivers and environments from contamination
Lessened danger of water contamination.
By avoiding flushing animal waste down the bathroom, the risk of water contamination is dramatically minimized, protecting public health.
Enhanced hygiene and health
Correct disposal methods promote far better hygiene and health, creating a more secure atmosphere for both humans and animals.
Final thought
To conclude, flushing pet waste down the toilet is dangerous to the setting and public health. By embracing different disposal approaches and complying with correct waste administration techniques, we can reduce the unfavorable impact of pet 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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