Solutions for the Dog Waste Problem

Every dog owner knows just how quickly dog waste accumulates on the property and around the neighborhood. This produces a number of problems. First of all, it is not aesthetically pleasing to have around. Furthermore, it can contribute to health problems for neighborhood residents as well as for the dogs. Finding solutions to these problems is crucial to maintaining a healthy and nice-looking environment.

  1. Clean Up Yourself

    • Dog waste contains lots of harmful bacteria that can cause health problems for everyone if it is left lying around. Perhaps the simplest way to avoid these health problems is to clean up your pet's waste on a regular basis. If you are walking your dog, cleanup as he does his business. Be sure to conduct a regular clean-up of your yard. Either cover your hand with a plastic bag or use a scooper.

    Clean Up Services

    • No one would blame you for not wanting to clean up dog waste by yourself. If you would prefer, you can enlist the help of a pet-waste disposal company. These companies typically offer services to both residential and commercial customers. For about $20 and $30 per week as of 2011, these companies will scoop and dispose of all dog waste on your property.

    Biodegradable Bags

    • No matter who is responsible for removing dog waste, it should be done with biodegradable bags. Dog waste makes up a significant portion of our landfill volume. Fortunately, dog waste is biodegradable. However, if non-biodegradable bags are used to dispose of the waste, the result is an enormous number of bags cluttering up our landfills that will take decades or even centuries to decompose.

    Composting

    • Scientists argue about whether or not using dog waste for compost is appropriate. While some argue that it is an environmentally-friendly way to dispose of dog waste, others argue that the risks of infection and disease resulting from bacteria found in dog feces outweigh the benefits of using dog feces as compost. While it is legal to use dog waste in this way, doing so may put any humans or dogs in the vicinity at risk.