Pet Waste Disposal Ideas

When you own a pet, dealing with the disposal of its waste is a necessary evil. While a large animal's waste typically composts back into the Earth, a smaller in-house pet will need its waste taken care of by a human counterpart. There are many ways pet waste can be contained and controlled to make sure the living environment is clean and odor-free.

  1. Throwing It Away

    • Snohomish County in Washington State recommends throwing away pet waste above all other methods of disposal. While the waste will likely end up in a landfill, you can purchase biodegradable pet waste bags to place the fecal matter before placing it in the trash, making sure the bag holding the poop doesn't become waste itself. To keep things sanitary, you can purchase a separate trash can or bag specifically for pet waste. You can also purchase biodegradable cat pan liners that go at the bottom of a litter box and can be thrown away with the rest of your garbage.

    Flushing It Down the Toilet

    • Flushing pet waste down the toilet is recommended for those who live on a municipal sewer system. This is a particularly sanitary and easy way to deal with pet waste, especially for pet owners living inside apartment buildings as they will only have to deal with one or two pet messes at a time. Simply pick up the waste with a tissue or toilet paper and flush it down the toilet.

    Toilet Training

    • Although not an option for dogs, some animals are able to toilet train, specifically cats. There are many books and magazines that can help you train your cat to dispose of its own waste in the toilet. This will eliminate the need to flush kitty litter, which can harm the pipes, and make your clean up a breeze. You will simply need to flush the toilet after the cat has done its business.

    Composting

    • The topic of composting pet waste is very controversial. It is often not recommended that you compost cat or dog waste (dog waste in particular has large amounts of nitrogen that can cause harm to plants), however herbivorous animals, such as hamsters or gerbils, may have their waste used. Dig a hole in your garden about three feet deep and two feet across. Compost Guy suggests that you do this at least 100 feet from the nearest water source, followed by placing material such as straw or cardboard inside the hole. You will then fill it up with pet waste and place a plastic enclosure on top of it.