The Effects of Flushing Animal Waste Down the Toilet
The Effects of Flushing Animal Waste Down the Toilet
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Just how do you really feel on the subject of Don't Flush Your Pets Poo Down The Loo, Vet Warns?
When it concerns throwing away waste, particularly animal waste, lots of people frequently turn to the convenient choice of flushing it down the toilet. Nevertheless, this seemingly simple remedy can have severe effects for the atmosphere and public health. In this article, we'll check out why flushing pet waste down the toilet is a negative idea and give alternate methods for appropriate disposal.
Intro
Correct garbage disposal is crucial for preserving ecological sustainability and public health. While it might appear safe to flush animal waste down the toilet, it can result in various issues, both for the setting and human wellness.
Risks of flushing pet waste
Environmental influence
Flushing animal waste presents dangerous germs and microorganisms into rivers, which can negatively impact aquatic ecological communities. These microorganisms can pollute water resources and injury marine life, interrupting delicate ecological communities.
Public health issues
Pet waste contains unsafe bacteria such as E. coli and Salmonella, which can posture severe wellness risks to humans. Flushing pet waste down the bathroom can pollute water products, leading to the spread of illness and infections.
Alternatives to flushing
Instead of flushing animal waste down the toilet, there are numerous alternate disposal approaches that are much more eco-friendly and sanitary.
Composting
Composting pet waste is a green method to dispose of it. By composting, organic matter is broken down into nutrient-rich soil, which can be utilized to fertilize gardens and plants.
Land fill disposal
Taking care of pet waste in a land fill is an additional option. While not as environmentally friendly as composting, it is a safer option to flushing, as it stops the contamination of water sources.
Pet dog waste disposal systems
There are specialized pet waste disposal systems offered that safely and hygienically deal with animal waste. These systems commonly utilize enzymes to break down waste and remove smells.
Actions to appropriate pet garbage disposal
To make sure proper disposal of pet waste, follow these steps:
Scooping and bagging waste
On a regular basis scoop and bag animal waste utilizing biodegradable bags. This protects against waste from polluting the atmosphere.
Making use of assigned waste bins
Dispose of bagged animal waste in marked waste bins, such as compost bins or land fill bins. Prevent flushing it down the bathroom at all prices.
Cleaning can and pet locations routinely
Consistently tidy litter boxes and family pet areas to prevent the buildup of waste and bacteria. Use pet-safe cleaning items to maintain health.
Advantages of appropriate disposal techniques
Embracing appropriate disposal methods for animal waste uses numerous benefits:
Lowered environmental pollution
Proper disposal techniques lower the threat of environmental pollution, protecting waterways and ecosystems from contamination
Lessened danger of water contamination.
By staying clear of flushing pet waste down the toilet, the threat of water contamination is dramatically decreased, securing public health.
Improved sanitation and health
Correct disposal techniques advertise far better sanitation and hygiene, developing a more secure environment for both human beings and pets.
Final thought
To conclude, purging animal waste down the bathroom is dangerous to the setting and public health. By embracing different disposal techniques and following appropriate waste monitoring techniques, we can decrease the adverse impact of animal waste and contribute to a cleaner, 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 tidy litter boxes and family pet areas to prevent the buildup of waste and bacteria. Use pet-safe cleaning items to maintain health.
Advantages of appropriate disposal techniques
Embracing appropriate disposal methods for animal waste uses numerous benefits:
Lowered environmental pollution
Proper disposal techniques lower the threat of environmental pollution, protecting waterways and ecosystems from contamination
Lessened danger of water contamination.
By staying clear of flushing pet waste down the toilet, the threat of water contamination is dramatically decreased, securing public health.
Improved sanitation and health
Correct disposal techniques advertise far better sanitation and hygiene, developing a more secure environment for both human beings and pets.
Final thought
To conclude, purging animal waste down the bathroom is dangerous to the setting and public health. By embracing different disposal techniques and following appropriate waste monitoring techniques, we can decrease the adverse impact of animal waste and contribute to a cleaner, 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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