Dog Poop Bags (Spoiler: They’re Not All The Same)

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As pet parents, we have a responsibility to clean up after our dogs, not to mention it’s the law. However, with increased concerns over plastic pollution, many pet owners are questioning the impact of all these plastic poop bags being sent to landfill. Are all dog poop bags bad for the environment? 

Are Dog Poop Bags Bad for the Environment? 

Dog poop bags’ impact on the environment varies depending on the materials they are made from and how they are disposed of. Most poop bags end up in landfill, taking over 500 years to degrade. Even biodegradable and compostable bags won’t degrade properly in landfill, as they’re designed to degrade under specific conditions. 

With the rise in popularity of biodegradable and compostable bags, many dog owners are wondering if these options are truly better for the environment or just another form of greenwashing. In this article, we will explore the various types of dog poop bags and their impact on the environment. Let’s get the scoop!

How Long Does Dog Poop Take To Decompose? 

With more than 400 billion dog poop bags disposed of annually this can leave pet parents wondering what’s worse, poop or poo bags? When considering this pet poop conundrum, you may question whether it’s better to just leave it where it lands, rather than pollute the planet with more plastic bags. How long does dog poop take to decompose? Does it degrade faster than a plastic poop bag?

Dog poop breaks down in two stages, physical and biological, and its decomposition is influenced by various factors. During the physical stage, the poop breaks down into smaller pieces due to environmental factors, such as temperature, moisture, and natural abrasion. During the biological stage, microorganisms break down the poop into simpler organic compounds that are absorbed into the soil. 

The time it takes for dog poop to decompose depends on several factors, including poop size, the weather, and the environment. On average, it takes between 9 weeks for dog poop to decompose fully. However, in colder or drier climates it can take more than two years for dog poop to break down. 

Although dog poop will eventually decompose, and arguably faster than a plastic poop bag, leaving dog poop on the ground is not a good idea. While it does eliminate having to use a poop bag, dog poop is bad for the environment, polluting soil and water bodies. Dog poop can also contain many harmful pathogens and parasites that cause illness in humans and other animals. Ultimately, it’s better to scoop the poop than leave it where it lands. 

What Are Dog Poop Bags Made Of? 

There are lots of poop bags out there making big claims about their eco credentials. This can make it very hard to differentiate between dog poop bags that are bad for the environment and those that are less damaging. Your choice of dog poop bag can have a significant impact on your pet’s carbon pawprint. So, it’s essential to consider the materials used to produce the bags and their impact on the environment. 

Dog poop bags are either made from renewable or non-renewable sources, that may or may not be biodegradable or compostable. Additionally, some poop bags may be made of a combination of materials, e.g., part biobased.

Basically, dog poop bags are more than likely made with bioplastic if you see biobased, biodegradable, or compostable on the pack. While the term bioplastic sounds completely eco-friendly, its impact on the environment can vary. So, let’s define exactly what biobased, biodegradable, and compostable mean, so you know exactly what you’re buying.

How Long Do Plastic Poop Bags Take To Decompose? 

Understanding what materials dog poo bags are made from can help you make an informed decision about their impact on the environment and which type is best for you. One factor to consider is how long the bags take to decompose. 

It’s difficult to determine the exact length of time it takes for plastic poop bags to break down, as it depends on various factors such as temperature, humidity, and exposure to ultraviolet light. However, depending on the conditions, research estimates that it can take up to 500 years or more for a plastic bag to decompose fully. 

The long chain structure of polyethylene plastic bags means that they are not easily broken down by natural processes, potentially taking hundreds of years to photodegrade. As it degrades, plastic bags break down into tiny particles called microplastics that pollute soil and water bodies. Microplastics have become a serious concern for the environment, especially marine life. The tiny plastic particles become confused with food sources and are ingested by marine life, causing serious injury, illness, and even death.  

How Long Do Biodegradable Poop Bags Take To Decompose? 

Biodegradable dog poop bags are designed to break down naturally by bacteria, fungi, or microbes. This process produces carbon dioxide (C02), water, and biomass, which are natural components that do not harm the environment. There is much debate regarding the length of time biodegradable bags take to break down, but decomposition is suggested to take between 6 months to 2 years. 

However, there is no set timeframe in which these bags must break down, as there is with compostable bags. A single bag could take weeks, years, or decades to break down but can still be regarded as biodegradable. Biodegradation greatly depends on exposure to various factors, such as temperature, humidity, and exposure to light. In certain environments, biodegradable bags may not degrade at all. 

While more environmentally friendly than plastic poop bags, biodegradable bags still have negative impacts. The production of plant-based materials requires land, water, and energy, and they may not break down as quickly as advertised if not disposed of properly. 

Side Note: Oxo-Degradable Poop Bags

Oxo-degradable bags are often confused with being biodegradable because they do degrade. The additives in oxo-degradable bags enable them to break down within 6-18 months. However, they still negatively impact the environment in the same manner as regular plastic poop bags, breaking down into harmful microplastics. So, while they do biodegrade, they should not be considered eco-friendly.

How Long Do Compostable Poop Bags Take To Decompose? 

Compostable dog poop bags are made from biobased materials, such as cornstarch, and are designed to break down naturally and quickly. Microorganisms in the composting process break down the bag’s plant-based materials, producing nutrient-rich compost that can be used to nourish the plants in your garden.   

The criteria for compostable poop bags set out by EN 13432 (European standard) and ASTM D6400 (US standard), state that bags must break down within 12 weeks and completely biodegrade within 6 months. During this process, 90% of the materials are converted into CO2, and the rest into water and biomass.  

However, it is worth noting that for a compostable bag to break down depends on various factors, such as temperature, moisture, and the presence of oxygen. The set decomposition timeframes are based on a poop bag being composted at an industrial composting facility, not a landfill. Landfills often lack oxygen, so the bags can’t break down as intended. For compostable poop bags to have the least environmental impact they need to be disposed of correctly.

Biodegradable vs Compostable Poop Bags 

Both biodegradable and compostable poop bags will eventually break down. However, to decipher which type is better environmentally a few key factors need to be considered, such as materials used in production, end-of-life management, and impact. 

Although petroleum-based bioplastic poop bags will biodegrade, their eco-credentials are impacted by the petroleum used in their creation. Additionally, there are no set regulations for biodegradable poop bags, therefore, no set timeframes for degradation as there are with compostable poop bags. Meaning a biodegradable bag could take a few weeks to break down or hundreds of years.  

Also, as these bags cannot be composted, and will inevitably end up in a landfill. Once there, these little poop-filled bags will begin to degrade and seep the greenhouse gas methane. Methane is 84 times more potent than C02 over a 20-year period at trapping heat in the atmosphere.  

Compostable poop bags are made from plant-based materials that are renewable resources. If disposed of correctly, compostable bags will break down quickly and produce nutrient-rich compost that can be used to fertilise your garden. However, compostable bags can be more expensive than other types of bags and aren’t always as widely available as plastic or biodegradable bags in some areas. Also, it’s worth noting that if compostable poop bags are sent to a landfill, they have the same potential to seep methane as biodegradable bags.  

Ultimately, compostable bags are more environmentally friendly than biodegradable bags due to the materials used in their composition and their end-of-life impact when disposed of as intended. You can check out our favourite compostable dog poop bags here.

Eco-Friendly Alternatives To Dog Poop Bags

If you want to avoid poop bags altogether, or as much as possible, we have a couple of eco-friendly alternatives that you may want to consider: 

• Newspaper: Sheets of newspapers paper can be easily folded up and popped in your pocket ready for the dog walk. You can still protect your hand and scoop the poop, then dispose of it in a designated dog waste bin or compost bin. Repurposing newspaper for poop pick-up duty is a great and cheap, or even free, alternative to poop bags. However, newspaper may not be so great for those days when your doggy’s doo-doo isn’t so solid. 
• Scoopers: Scoopers, such as Mr. Peanut’s 32″ Pooper Scooper, can be used to pick up dog poop and deposited straight into a compost bin or designated dog waste bin. While you would have to spend money buying a scooper in the beginning, over time it will pay for itself with money saved from not using poop bags. Scoopers are great, especially for at home use when scooping the poop in your garden, however, it may not be very practical to carry around when out and about. 
• Pooch Paper: Pooch Paper is a non-chlorine bleached paper dog poop bag alternative. They are compostable, PFAS-free, and made using renewable energy. They are available in two sizes, 12”x12” and 14”x14”, and come pre-folded and ready to pop into your pocket. While they are a great eco-friendly option, they aren’t the most budget-friendly. And much like using newspaper, it may not be easy to use when trying to pick up not-so-solid poops. 

If you’re trying to reduce your poop bag usage you may want to consider setting up your own at-home dog waste disposal system. Doggy septic tanks and composting are great ways of disposing of pet waste without the need for poop bags. You can learn more about dog waste disposal methods here.

Final Thoughts 

There are some great eco-friendly poop bag alternatives available, and some can even save you money. But whether we like to admit it or not, sometimes we do need the convenience of using a poop bag to clean up after our dogs.  

Compared to plastic bags, compostable bags are more environmentally friendly and do not contribute to plastic pollution. Biodegradable bags, while similar to compostable bags, take longer to break down and may be derived from non-renewable sources. Although compostable bags are generally more expensive than plastic or biodegradable bags, they do offer far more environmental benefits when disposed of correctly. However, the best way to reduce poop bag usage and limit our dog’s impact is to set up a proper pet waste disposal system at home, such as a doggy septic tank or compost. This way we’re only using poop bags when out and about. 

Happy scooping friends.