Does dog poop decompose in winter how to#

The heat generated in a large, adequately tended compost pile would kill off any pathogens anyway. “It is such a small amount once it passes through the dog that it is insignificant,” she says.

Plus, as Professor Ackland points out, “the fact is, if there were any pathogens, they are suited to living inside humans or dogs, and once you put those pathogens in the compost, unless there are masses of them, they will probably just die.”Īckland has also established that there are no concerns regarding antiparasitic treatments, like those for heartworm. If they get regular veterinary care and treatments for common parasites, the risk is minimal. In terms of the risk of parasites and germs, the first thing to consider is that you will only be composting your own dog’s poop. If anything, it only has an inoffensive earthy aroma within a matter of days. “Compost that you make has lost all of its smell because all the molecules have broken down into their individual components,” she explains. Professor Ackland is keen to reassure owners that compost containing dog poop has little to no odor. The two biggest worries about composting dog poop are generally the smell and the risk of parasites and germs. Is Composting Dog Poop Safe and Practical? So we’ve got to do something with this dog waste,” she explains. Recently as much as 60% of households have dogs or cats, and just a few years ago, it was 40%. “There’s a huge amount of dog and cat waste now-as much as there was human waste in the fifties, and we’ve got septic systems for that.

Does dog poop decompose in winter how to#

Rose Seemann is the founder of the pet composting company Envirowagg and author of The Pet Poo Pocket Guide: How to Safely Compost and Recycle Pet Waste. Why is Dog Poop Such a Problem Environmentally?Īre you one of the millions of owners that uses “biodegradable” bags to scoop your dog’s poop before putting it in the trash? Maybe you walk on remote trails and flick your dog’s doody into the bushes, thinking it is fine because it will decompose naturally, and no one is going to tread on it there. Not only is it environmentally friendly, but it is a simple, natural, and inexpensive option for use as a nutrient-rich and surprisingly odor-free fertilizer that plants love.

If you can get over the initial “ick” factor, composting your dog’s poop is absolutely worth considering.