It’s crucial that we clean up after our dogs as responsible dog owners. However, some poop bags can have serious negative environmental effects.
Below, we list some drawbacks of conventional bags and detail what makes some poop bags environmentally friendly. We’ll also give you some of our top recommendations for eco-friendly dog waste removal!
What’s the difference between biodegradable and compostable bags?
Biodegradable waste bags
Some dog owners might believe that after being disposed of in a landfill, a biodegradable waste bag will completely disappear. After all, the definition of “biodegradable” is “able to decompose naturally in the environment.” So, everything should be fine, right? Sadly, it’s not that easy.
Polylactic acid (PLA), a thermoplastic derived from renewable resources like cornstarch, sugarcane, and tapioca, is used to make biodegradable bags. However, oxygen-rich environments are the only ones in which the biodegradation process can take place. Landfills frequently lack oxygen due to the accumulation of trash in a small area; as a result, nothing can truly biodegrade there. Additionally, if the bags do break apart in the landfill, they will release methane gas instead of carbon dioxide, which is much more dangerous.
There are also bags that bear the label “biodegradable,” but are actually just regular plastic bags with additives that hasten their decomposition. These bags eventually break down into tiny pieces known as microplastics, which can contaminate our waterways.
Compostable waste bags
Anything that can completely decompose in compost and become organic waste is said to be compostable. Not all compostable bags are biodegradable, but all biodegradable bags are compostable.
Natural plant-based materials such as corn, flax, and bamboo are used to make compostable bags. They can be composted either at home or in a commercial composting facility, but it’s important to note that the conditions for home compostable bags and commercially compostable bags to decompose differ. Commercially compostable bags cannot be composted at home, but a home compostable bag can be composted in an industrial facility.
Unlike biodegradable bags, compostable bags need to meet certain standards, such as the American ASTM D6400 and European EN 13432. To make sure a bag is truly compostable, look for certification logos on the product.
Doggy Do Good – Pet Supplies with Purpose
Because they are 38% vegetable-based, partially made from corn starch (an annually renewable resource), and contain other bio-based proprietary components, Doggy Do Good Premium Pet Waste Bags are the future of dog poop bags. Because they decompose in your properly managed home compost, keeping parks and neighborhoods clean and green, our bags are a great replacement for standard polyethylene plastic bags and are safer for the environment. Our poop bags are GREEN for a reason!.
Because of their extreme durability, our poop bags won’t leak, break, or tear. They are soft to the touch, don’t stick to one another, are easy to open, and are odorless despite being made to withstand the most demanding tasks. Our bags keep contents and odor inside because they are larger, thicker, tougher, and leak-proof. Excellent for disposing of baby diapers, dogs, cats, and cleaning out the cat litter box.
At Doggy Do Good, we value kindness, peace, and awareness for both our pets and the environment. Our goal is to encourage significant change in the way pet waste is managed in order to reduce the environmental impact of our pets. We’re honored to be a part of 1% for the Planet, a coalition of businesses that commit to allocating at least 1% of annual sales to environmental causes. We also give rescues and animal welfare organizations a larger portion of our earnings.
Conventional Poop Bags Are Not Eco-Friendly
Not all poop bags are created equally. Dog owners will scoop poop at least once a day, which can cause landfills to become overcrowded with conventional poop bags that take forever to decompose.
Even bags labelled as “biodegradable” may take a very long time to breakdown, which means they’ll take up considerable space while sitting around inside a landfill. And because most landfills are anaerobic (contain no oxygen), the bags may not breakdown for decades.
FAQ
How long does it take for compostable dog poop bags to decompose?
COMPOSTABLE DOG POOP BAGS This process can take up to 90 days in a commercial composting facility. Depending on the weather and the state of the composting environment, the process may take 180 to 360 days if the bag is rated for home composting.
Are doggie poop bags compostable?
The Original Poop Bags are biodegradable pet waste bags that adhere to the Commercial Plastics Standard ASTM D6400. They can be composted in municipal composting facilities with organic waste, but these facilities might not be accessible in your area.
What is the most environmentally friendly way to dispose of dog poop?
According to the EPA, flushing dog waste down the toilet is the most environmentally friendly method of disposal. The majority of municipal water treatment facilities are set up to handle feces-containing water, and dog waste is not all that dissimilar from human waste.
What happens to all the dog poop bags?
Since plastic bags can take hundreds of years to degrade, some of the bags end up being buried in landfills where they and their contents will last for a very long time. Municipal waste is increasingly being burned in waste-to-energy facilities, which is more environmentally friendly than landfilling but is still debatable.