Understanding the Dangers of Flushing Animal Waste Down the Toilet
Understanding the Dangers of Flushing Animal Waste Down the Toilet
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When it concerns throwing away waste, specifically animal waste, many people often turn to the hassle-free alternative of flushing it down the bathroom. Nevertheless, this seemingly very easy option can have major consequences for the environment and public health. In this post, we'll explore why flushing pet waste down the bathroom is a negative idea and supply alternative techniques for appropriate disposal.
Introduction
Proper waste disposal is crucial for keeping environmental sustainability and public health. While it may appear harmless to flush animal waste down the toilet, it can lead to various concerns, both for the environment and human wellness.
Threats of flushing animal waste
Ecological effect
Purging animal waste introduces harmful microorganisms and microorganisms into rivers, which can adversely impact aquatic ecosystems. These virus can pollute water sources and harm marine life, interrupting delicate ecological communities.
Public health problems
Animal waste consists of damaging bacteria such as E. coli and Salmonella, which can position severe wellness risks to human beings. Purging pet waste down the toilet can pollute water materials, causing the spread of conditions and infections.
Alternatives to flushing
As opposed to purging pet waste down the bathroom, there are several alternative disposal techniques that are much more eco-friendly and sanitary.
Composting
Composting animal waste is a green means to throw away it. By composting, raw material is broken down into nutrient-rich dirt, which can be made use of to feed yards and plants.
Land fill disposal
Getting rid of animal waste in a garbage dump is an additional choice. While not as environmentally friendly as composting, it is a safer option to flushing, as it avoids the contamination of water sources.
Family pet waste disposal systems
There are specific family pet waste disposal systems available that securely and hygienically get rid of pet waste. These systems typically use enzymes to break down waste and eliminate odors.
Actions to appropriate pet waste disposal
To make sure appropriate disposal of animal waste, comply with these actions:
Scooping and getting waste
Routinely scoop and bag animal waste making use of biodegradable bags. This stops waste from contaminating the atmosphere.
Using designated waste bins
Dispose of bagged animal waste in designated waste containers, such as compost bins or landfill bins. Prevent flushing it down the bathroom in any way prices.
Cleansing litter boxes and pet dog areas frequently
Routinely tidy litter boxes and animal areas to avoid the buildup of waste and bacteria. Usage pet-safe cleansing items to maintain health.
Advantages of appropriate disposal techniques
Taking on proper disposal approaches for pet waste supplies several benefits:
Lowered environmental pollution
Proper disposal techniques reduce the danger of environmental pollution, safeguarding waterways and communities from contamination
Decreased danger of water contamination.
By preventing flushing animal waste down the bathroom, the danger of water contamination is significantly decreased, protecting public health.
Improved hygiene and hygiene
Appropriate disposal approaches promote better cleanliness and health, producing a more secure environment for both people and animals.
Verdict
To conclude, flushing pet waste down the commode is hazardous to the environment and public health. By taking on different disposal approaches and following appropriate waste management methods, we can minimize the negative effect of pet waste and add 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
Routinely tidy litter boxes and animal areas to avoid the buildup of waste and bacteria. Usage pet-safe cleansing items to maintain health.
Advantages of appropriate disposal techniques
Taking on proper disposal approaches for pet waste supplies several benefits:
Lowered environmental pollution
Proper disposal techniques reduce the danger of environmental pollution, safeguarding waterways and communities from contamination
Decreased danger of water contamination.
By preventing flushing animal waste down the bathroom, the danger of water contamination is significantly decreased, protecting public health.
Improved hygiene and hygiene
Appropriate disposal approaches promote better cleanliness and health, producing a more secure environment for both people and animals.
Verdict
To conclude, flushing pet waste down the commode is hazardous to the environment and public health. By taking on different disposal approaches and following appropriate waste management methods, we can minimize the negative effect of pet waste and add 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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