Wren | Actions
Impact
Small impact
Cost
Affordable
Time
Long-term
When exploring eco-friendly pet waste options, check if your local municipality offers pet waste disposal programs. Many place specialized bins and bags in parks, or sponsor community composting programs that can safely process pet waste.
If these options aren’t available, consider writing to your local representatives. In the meantime, let’s explore other alternatives based on your environmental goals.
Always pick up after your pets
Pet waste is a biohazard. It can contain harmful bacteria, parasites, and worms that pose risks to human health and the environment if not properly managed.
To prevent contamination, always pick up after your pet—especially near water sources. Pet waste should never enter storm drains, lakes, or streams. The general rule is to keep pets 200 feet (61 meters) from water bodies. Decaying pet waste can release pathogens and ammonia, which can kill aquatic life or transmit diseases to humans.
Check if your sewage treatment plant accepts flushing pet waste down toilets. Many systems are not designed to handle the pathogens in animal waste. Be sure to follow your local laws and guidelines. Poop bags and cat litter should never be flushed due to the high likelihood of clogging pipes and drains.
Choose better waste bags
If you dispose of pet waste in the trash, you must wrap it carefully to avoid spillage during garbage collection.
One common form of wrapping is to use specialized poop bags, which are often made of plastic that takes hundreds of years to decompose, contributing to pollution in landfills and oceans. Instead, try reusing plastic packaging (like bread bags and cereal bags) or choosing compostable alternatives that break down faster and have a lower environmental impact.
Plant-Based Dog Poop Bags
Made from plant-based biopolymers which are certified by the highest American and European standards for compostability.
Double check that any “biodegradable” or “compostable” bags will actually break down in your municipality, as some may not fully decompose in all environments.
Level up the litter box
Many cat and rabbit owners scoop waste from litter boxes with newspaper, recycled paper, or specialized shovels to avoid plastic bags. But what about the litter itself?
Look for locally-sourced organic litters made from wood, corn, straw, or hay. These are more environmentally friendly than traditional clay or silica options, which are not biodegradable and will sit in landfills indefinitely.
Clay is sourced from open-pit or strip mining, permanently damaging ecosystems and generating carbon emissions and waste. One tonne of silica gel needs roughly 5 tonnes of coal to produce— over ten times the CO₂ pressure of other materials.
Consider dog waste composting
About 12 million tonnes of pet waste enters landfills in the United States annually. When it breaks down in landfills, it releases methane (CH₄), a potent greenhouse gas with a 12-year global warming potential approximately 86× greater than CO₂.
Composting dog waste requires time, space, and careful management to avoid health risks. You cannot simply add it to your general compost heap. Keep it away from gardens, edible plants, animals, children, and pregnant individuals. Do not add waste from unknown dogs.
It might be helpful to read this USDA “Composting Dog Waste” booklet to see if dog waste composting is a manageable option for you. Then, contact your municipality for more up-to-date dog-waste composting information specific to your local environment. Some areas may not allow at-home pet waste composting solutions.
Properly treated dog waste compost can then be used as a soil additive for lawn care and on flower beds. It should not be used on crops grown for human consumption.