Uncovering the Hazards of Flushing Animal Waste Down the Toilet
Uncovering the Hazards of Flushing Animal Waste Down the Toilet
Blog Article
Any individual seems to have their unique conception in relation to Don't Flush Your Pets Poo Down The Loo, Vet Warns.
When it concerns taking care of waste, especially animal waste, lots of people often consider the convenient choice of flushing it down the commode. However, this apparently very easy remedy can have serious repercussions for the atmosphere and public health. In this write-up, we'll explore why flushing animal waste down the commode is a bad concept and provide alternative approaches for correct disposal.
Intro
Appropriate waste disposal is essential for preserving environmental sustainability and public health. While it may seem safe to flush animal waste down the commode, it can bring about different problems, both for the atmosphere and human well-being.
Risks of flushing animal waste
Ecological effect
Flushing pet waste introduces harmful germs and pathogens right into rivers, which can adversely impact aquatic ecological communities. These microorganisms can infect water resources and damage marine life, interfering with delicate ecological communities.
Public health worries
Pet waste consists of unsafe germs such as E. coli and Salmonella, which can pose significant health threats to human beings. Flushing pet waste down the commode can infect water supplies, causing the spread of illness and infections.
Alternatives to flushing
Instead of purging animal waste down the bathroom, there are a number of alternate disposal methods that are much more eco-friendly and sanitary.
Composting
Composting animal waste is an eco-friendly means to get rid of it. By composting, organic matter is broken down into nutrient-rich dirt, which can be utilized to feed gardens and plants.
Landfill disposal
Throwing away 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 prevents the contamination of water sources.
Pet garbage disposal systems
There are specific family pet garbage disposal systems available that securely and hygienically get rid of pet waste. These systems frequently make use of enzymes to break down waste and remove odors.
Actions to correct animal garbage disposal
To make sure appropriate disposal of pet waste, comply with these actions:
Scooping and nabbing waste
Consistently scoop and bag pet waste making use of naturally degradable bags. This stops waste from polluting the atmosphere.
Utilizing designated waste bins
Dispose of bagged animal waste in assigned waste bins, such as compost containers or garbage dump containers. Stay clear of flushing it down the commode in any way prices.
Cleaning up litter boxes and pet areas consistently
Regularly tidy can and pet areas to avoid the build-up of waste and germs. Use pet-safe cleansing products to maintain health.
Advantages of appropriate disposal methods
Adopting appropriate disposal methods for animal waste uses a number of benefits:
Minimized environmental pollution
Appropriate disposal approaches reduce the risk of environmental pollution, protecting rivers and communities from contamination
Minimized danger of water contamination.
By staying clear of flushing pet waste down the commode, the risk of water contamination is significantly lowered, safeguarding public health.
Boosted cleanliness and hygiene
Proper disposal techniques advertise far better hygiene and health, producing a safer setting for both human beings and pets.
Verdict
Finally, flushing pet waste down the bathroom is harmful to the atmosphere and public health. By embracing alternate disposal methods and adhering to appropriate waste monitoring methods, we can reduce the unfavorable influence of animal waste and contribute 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
Regularly tidy can and pet areas to avoid the build-up of waste and germs. Use pet-safe cleansing products to maintain health.
Advantages of appropriate disposal methods
Adopting appropriate disposal methods for animal waste uses a number of benefits:
Minimized environmental pollution
Appropriate disposal approaches reduce the risk of environmental pollution, protecting rivers and communities from contamination
Minimized danger of water contamination.
By staying clear of flushing pet waste down the commode, the risk of water contamination is significantly lowered, safeguarding public health.
Boosted cleanliness and hygiene
Proper disposal techniques advertise far better hygiene and health, producing a safer setting for both human beings and pets.
Verdict
Finally, flushing pet waste down the bathroom is harmful to the atmosphere and public health. By embracing alternate disposal methods and adhering to appropriate waste monitoring methods, we can reduce the unfavorable influence of animal waste and contribute 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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