The Results of Flushing Animal Waste Down the Toilet
The Results of Flushing Animal Waste Down the Toilet
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Just how do you really feel about 10 Things You Should Never Flush Down The Toilet?
When it comes to dealing with waste, specifically animal waste, many individuals usually turn to the convenient alternative of flushing it down the toilet. Nonetheless, this relatively easy service can have major effects for the setting and public health. In this post, we'll discover why flushing animal waste down the bathroom is a bad concept and offer different approaches for correct disposal.
Intro
Appropriate waste disposal is essential for keeping environmental sustainability and public health. While it might appear safe to purge animal waste down the commode, it can lead to various issues, both for the setting and human health.
Threats of flushing pet waste
Environmental impact
Purging animal waste introduces hazardous bacteria and virus right into waterways, which can negatively influence water communities. These pathogens can infect water resources and damage marine life, interfering with delicate ecosystems.
Public health problems
Animal waste has dangerous bacteria such as E. coli and Salmonella, which can present serious health dangers to human beings. Flushing pet waste down the toilet can pollute water products, leading to the spread of illness and infections.
Alternatives to flushing
As opposed to flushing animal waste down the bathroom, there are numerous alternate disposal techniques that are extra environmentally friendly and hygienic.
Composting
Composting animal waste is a green means to deal with it. By composting, organic matter is broken down right into nutrient-rich soil, which can be utilized to feed yards and plants.
Garbage dump disposal
Disposing of animal waste in a garbage dump is an additional option. While not as environmentally friendly as composting, it is a much safer option to flushing, as it protects against the contamination of water resources.
Pet dog waste disposal systems
There are specialized pet garbage disposal systems offered that securely and hygienically throw away pet waste. These systems usually make use of enzymes to break down waste and get rid of smells.
Steps to proper pet waste disposal
To make get more info sure correct disposal of pet waste, adhere to these steps:
Scooping and landing waste
Routinely scoop and bag pet waste utilizing eco-friendly bags. This prevents waste from contaminating the setting.
Making use of designated waste containers
Dispose of bagged pet waste in marked waste bins, such as garden compost bins or landfill bins. Avoid flushing it down the commode at all costs.
Cleaning up can and family pet locations on a regular basis
Regularly clean litter boxes and pet areas to stop the build-up of waste and microorganisms. Usage pet-safe cleansing products to preserve hygiene.
Benefits of correct disposal methods
Taking on correct disposal approaches for animal waste provides several advantages:
Minimized environmental pollution
Proper disposal methods lower the danger of environmental pollution, safeguarding rivers and communities from contamination
Decreased danger of water contamination.
By avoiding flushing pet waste down the toilet, the danger of water contamination is considerably lowered, protecting public health.
Boosted sanitation and health
Appropriate disposal techniques promote better sanitation and health, producing a much safer environment for both human beings and pets.
Conclusion
In conclusion, purging animal waste down the commode is dangerous to the setting and public health. By embracing different disposal techniques and following appropriate waste management methods, we can decrease the negative influence of animal waste and add to a cleaner, much 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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