Which Flushing Animal Waste Down the Toilet May be Harmful
Which Flushing Animal Waste Down the Toilet May be Harmful
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What're your opinions concerning Don't Flush Your Pets Poo Down The Loo, Vet Warns?
When it concerns dealing with waste, especially animal waste, many people often resort to the hassle-free option of flushing it down the bathroom. Nonetheless, this apparently simple remedy can have severe consequences for the atmosphere and public health. In this post, we'll explore why flushing animal waste down the commode is a bad idea and provide different techniques for correct disposal.
Introduction
Correct waste disposal is important for maintaining ecological sustainability and public health. While it might seem harmless to flush animal waste down the commode, it can result in numerous issues, both for the setting and human wellness.
Threats of flushing animal waste
Environmental impact
Purging pet waste presents dangerous bacteria and microorganisms right into rivers, which can adversely influence marine communities. These microorganisms can contaminate water sources and damage marine life, interfering with delicate ecosystems.
Public health concerns
Pet waste consists of hazardous germs such as E. coli and Salmonella, which can posture serious health and wellness risks to people. Flushing animal waste down the toilet can contaminate water products, leading to the spread of conditions and infections.
Alternatives to flushing
As opposed to flushing animal waste down the commode, there are several alternate disposal techniques that are more eco-friendly and hygienic.
Composting
Composting animal waste is an eco-friendly way to deal with it. By composting, organic matter is broken down right into nutrient-rich dirt, which can be made use of to feed gardens and plants.
Landfill disposal
Dealing with animal waste in a landfill is another alternative. While not as eco-friendly as composting, it is a safer choice to flushing, as it stops the contamination of water sources.
Pet waste disposal systems
There are customized family pet waste disposal systems available that safely and hygienically deal with pet waste. These systems typically use enzymes to break down waste and remove smells.
Actions to proper pet waste disposal
To ensure correct disposal of pet waste, adhere to these steps:
Scooping and bagging waste
Routinely scoop and bag animal waste using biodegradable bags. This protects against waste from contaminating the environment.
Utilizing designated waste containers
Dispose of bagged animal waste in designated waste bins, such as compost containers or land fill containers. Prevent flushing it down the bathroom in all prices.
Cleaning can and pet areas routinely
Consistently tidy can and family pet areas to prevent the build-up of waste and microorganisms. Use pet-safe cleaning items to preserve hygiene.
Advantages of appropriate disposal methods
Adopting correct disposal techniques for pet waste provides several advantages:
Reduced environmental pollution
Proper disposal methods minimize the danger of environmental pollution, safeguarding rivers and environments from contamination
Minimized threat of water contamination.
By staying clear of flushing pet waste down the commode, the risk of water contamination is considerably decreased, guarding public health.
Boosted hygiene and hygiene
Appropriate disposal methods advertise far better sanitation and health, developing a safer environment for both human beings and animals.
Conclusion
In conclusion, purging animal waste down the bathroom is damaging to the environment and public health. By taking on alternate disposal methods and following correct waste management practices, we can lessen the unfavorable effect of pet 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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