What Flushing Animal Waste Down the Toilet Could be Harmful
What Flushing Animal Waste Down the Toilet Could be Harmful
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Almost everyone is bound to have their own concepts on the subject of 10 Things You Should Never Flush Down The Toilet.
When it pertains to throwing away waste, particularly animal waste, many people usually turn to the hassle-free option of flushing it down the toilet. However, this relatively easy remedy can have serious repercussions for the atmosphere and public health. In this article, we'll discover why flushing animal waste down the bathroom is a negative idea and supply different methods for appropriate disposal.
Intro
Proper waste disposal is vital for maintaining environmental sustainability and public health. While it may seem harmless to flush animal waste down the commode, it can bring about various issues, both for the environment and human wellness.
Dangers of flushing pet waste
Ecological effect
Purging pet waste introduces hazardous microorganisms and virus right into rivers, which can negatively affect marine environments. These microorganisms can infect water resources and harm aquatic life, interfering with delicate communities.
Public health issues
Pet waste contains dangerous microorganisms such as E. coli and Salmonella, which can posture serious wellness dangers to people. Purging animal waste down the commode can contaminate water products, bring about the spread of illness and infections.
Alternatives to flushing
Instead of flushing animal waste down the bathroom, there are a number of different disposal techniques that are extra environmentally friendly and hygienic.
Composting
Composting animal waste is an environmentally friendly method to take care of it. By composting, organic matter is broken down right into nutrient-rich dirt, which can be utilized to feed gardens and plants.
Landfill disposal
Throwing away pet waste in a garbage dump is another option. While not as eco-friendly as composting, it is a much safer alternative to flushing, as it prevents the contamination of water website resources.
Pet garbage disposal systems
There are specific pet garbage disposal systems offered that securely and hygienically dispose of animal waste. These systems often utilize enzymes to break down waste and get rid of odors.
Actions to correct pet waste disposal
To ensure correct disposal of pet waste, comply with these steps:
Scooping and landing waste
Regularly scoop and bag pet waste utilizing biodegradable bags. This prevents waste from infecting the atmosphere.
Utilizing assigned waste containers
Dispose of bagged animal waste in marked waste containers, such as garden compost bins or garbage dump containers. Stay clear of flushing it down the toilet at all costs.
Cleansing can and pet dog locations on a regular basis
Frequently tidy litter boxes and pet locations to avoid the buildup of waste and microorganisms. Use pet-safe cleansing products to preserve hygiene.
Benefits of appropriate disposal methods
Taking on proper disposal approaches for animal waste offers numerous benefits:
Decreased environmental pollution
Proper disposal techniques lower the risk of environmental pollution, protecting rivers and ecological communities from contamination
Reduced threat of water contamination.
By preventing flushing pet waste down the commode, the risk of water contamination is significantly minimized, guarding public health.
Improved cleanliness and hygiene
Proper disposal approaches promote better cleanliness and health, developing a much safer environment for both people and pets.
Verdict
In conclusion, flushing pet waste down the toilet is unsafe to the setting and public health. By taking on alternative disposal methods and following proper waste administration methods, we can reduce the unfavorable effect of animal waste and contribute to a cleaner, healthier planet.
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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