Pet Poo
If you've got a pet, then you also have pet poo to deal with. And how you choose to deal with that poop can actually have a rather large impact on the environment because pet waste contains bacteria that can become a problem if it is allowed to contaminate local waterways.
In general, you can green pet poo by dealing with it in one of the following ways:
Flush it.
Compost it.
Use biodegradable and/or recycled products to handle it.
Your best bet is to keep pet waste out of the landfill by flushing or composting it whenever possible. If you do need to toss it, just make sure you use eco-friendly gear (like biodegradable pet waste bags or shredded, recycled paper) to deal with it.
Can I add pet poop to my compost pile?
Yes and no. Pet waste can be composted, but it must be done carefully. Raw pet poop contains toxic organisms and bacteria (like E. Coli, salmonella, and streptococcus) as well as parasites that can be toxic to humans. Purchase an additional compost bin to keep pet waste compost separated from other compost and never use pet waste compost on food crops.
Kitty Litter
Conventional cat litter is non biodegradable, made from strip-mined clay, and infused with carcinogenic silica dust and sodium bentonite. These chemicals are harmful for the health of your cat as well as your children. There are several eco-friendly, nontoxic, biodegradable kitty litter options available for kitty to take care of business. Swheat Scoop is a natural, biodegradable wheat litter. Most major retailers will also have several earth-friendly options available in-store.
The best part about these eco-savvy options? Many of them can be flushed or composted (for non-food plants) rather than tossed. Your best bet will be to try a few different options until you find one that works for both you and kitty.
Doggie Bags
Why place biodegradable doggie doo in a plastic bag that will keep it locked up for hundreds (if not thousands) of years? Look for biodegradable poop bags to clean up doggie doo rather than plastic bags that will prevent any decomposition over the years. A biodegradable waste bag can be thrown in the compost bin (for use on non-food plants) or collected at your curb with other biodegradable yard waste.
EcoChoices makes reasonably priced bags that are 100 pecrent biodegradable and made from non-genetically modified corn. Biobag dog waste bags are also biodegradable and are found in many parks and dog run facilities.
