Dog crap is biodegradable. Seems like a “duh” point, right? Well, there’s something fundamentally wrong going on in my neighborhood.
You see, we have to pick up our dogs’ poop or we can get fined. I recently read that uncollected dog doo-doo contributes to pollutants in waterways, so I get why I should pick it up.
The problem is that the city provides these plastic bags located in areas around the neighborhood for people to pick up their dogs’ poop.
Some reports say that it takes hundreds of years or more for plastic to decompose.
The Environmental Protection Agency reports the United States alone generated 30 million tons of plastic in 2007. Thirty million tons!
Can you even fathom what that looks like? One ton is the equivalent of 2,000 pounds, so you do the math.
This morning as I walked the dog, I imagined what my conversation with a police officer would be if I boycotted using the city-provided bags:
Cop: Uh, miss. You need to pick up that dog crap.
Me: Sir, that crap is nothing compared to the negative impact of using the plastic bag to pick it up. It can take hundreds of years for plastic to decompose. What are you going to do about that?
Cop: Miss, there’s nothing I can do about that. But rules are rules and your dog’s crap is a menace to these streets.
I do have a solution. If you live in a neighborhood that makes you pick up dog poop or if you just like to pick up your dog’s poop in general, buy biodegradable dog bags.
They are a little more expensive but they make all the difference in the world. The bags I like to use are from the BioBag brand (made form corn!).
Follow the link to learn more: BioBags
Happy picking!
[...] or not…and this is often true. Kids are dangerous. A dog owner may also worry about the environmental impact of either leaving or picking up his dog’s turds. And people who don’t pick up their dog’s poo are likely to be called names or be put [...]
Ends up both bags the city offers are biodegradable! Good news, but after discussion the most environmentally friendly and sanitary method for disposing of dog pooch is the good ol pooper scooper!
[...] as discussed in my recent post about dog poop bags (yes, dog poop bags), some reports state plastics can take hundreds of years to [...]
Hi sweetie, yes what a funny and backwards world we live in somtimes. The fact is that litter is litter and litter isn’t good. Dog poop can not only contaminate waterways, but also our homes if we step in it and little people if they eat it or handle it. Plastic is also not good. So, what do we do? You pretty much nailed it with Biodegradable bags, as the best we can do solution, other than not getting dogs, which I assume is not a viable option. Luckily the city actually puts out some of these if you see the blue bags, I believe they are biodegradable. There are brown bags however that are not that I find on some corners. None of them will compare to the ones that you referenced I’m sure. What’s also tricky that I noticed a disclaimer on the bags that says its biodegradable per CA standards. I’m wondering how this compares to US standards..would be a fun one to research. In the meanwhile, perhaps I’ll pick up the poop barehanded..lol!
You are really gonna get people thinking!!!!
Wow, I never thought about the environmental impact of doing a seemingly good deed. It makes me completely re-think the idea of crap collecting. There must be some new unmet solution out there to take care of this crappy situation.
Contacted the company via e-mail to inquire about the materials that the bags are made of and as of yet, no respose. Stay tuned!
Hey Brett, thanks for the comment and I do stand somewhat corrected! I just got off the phone with the company. Turns out the bags are made of plastic (recycled plastic, actually), but they add an ingredient to the bags that reacts with the dog poop (ha!) to help it degrade within 55 to 67 days, says the rep. When I asked her what the difference was between biodegradable and degradable bags, she said that biodegradable is compostable. You’re right, a pooper scooper is the option with the least amount of additional waste. Thank you for the great tip.