If you’re lucky enough to have a dog in your life you will know all the joys they bring. You will also know that they leave us some messy business to take care of. Our furry friends produce an average of 0.2kg of poop per day, and with an estimated 159 million dogs in the US and Europe alone, that’s a lot of s**t! And all that dog poop is bad for the environment.
You may be thinking, what’s the problem? Poop decomposes, right? Just how bad can a little doggy doo-doo be?
Is Dog Poop Bad For The Environment?
In a word, yes. Dog poop contains many harmful parasites and bacteria that are hazardous to public health and other animals. It contributes to global warming, producing the greenhouse gas methane as it degrades. Dog poop also adds excess nutrients to the environment, which negatively impacts biodiversity and contaminates waterways.
Yikes! It seems like our little darlings’ deuces have quite the impact! But as responsible, eco-conscious pet parents, the more we know the better. So, let’s get the scoop on the poop, why dog poop is bad for the environment, and why picking up after our pups is the best thing we can do for the environment.
Dog Poop Causes Soil Pollution
We’ve all seen them. A dog owner intensely staring at their phone screen, or briskly walking ahead. Acting as if they haven’t noticed that their furry friend has just left a little present behind. However, not scooping the poop has a far bigger impact than ruining somebody’s new shoes.
Yes, if left, the poop will break down, but as it decomposes it releases the nutrients phosphorus and nitrogen. In excessive quantities these nutrients impact biodiversity, causing the soil to become over-fertilised, pushing out vital plant species and all the wildlife they support.
Collectively our canine companion’s waste (both faeces and urine) leaves an average of 11kg of nitrogen and 5kg of phosphorus per hectare per year. Research suggests the high concentrations of these nutrients found along dog walking routes and park trails exceed those found on land used for agriculture. This level of nutrient pollution can destroy plant life, and ruin the balance of an ecosystem.
Dog poop is also full of pathogens and parasites, and they don’t just disappear because the poop itself has decomposed. They can stay lurking in the soil for years, posing a real threat to public health, as well as other animals. Dog poop can have a catastrophic impact on wildlife populations, especially in areas with rare and vulnerable species.
Dog Poop Causes Water Contamination
More than 30% of dog owners admit to not picking up after their pets. Some owners believe it will get washed away the next time it rains. Technically, they’re right, it does. But that’s the beginning of the problem.
Pet waste doesn’t just disappear when it rains. It’s washed into streams, rivers, and even the ocean via runoff. It pollutes waterways with parasites and pathogens, such as e coli, giardia, salmonella, and ringworm, as well as adding excess nutrients (phosphorus and nitrogen) to the environment.
The increased concentration of these nutrients encourages the growth of algae blooms, which consume oxygen and block sunlight that is needed by underwater plant life.
When an algae bloom collapses, it decomposes causing hypoxia, the depletion of oxygen levels, and releases ammonia. The lack of oxygen and increased concentrations of ammonia in the water create an uninhabitable environment, impacting the health of fish and other aquatic life and can even cause death.
Some algae can produce toxins that are very harmful to both public health and animals. These toxins can cause allergic reactions, such as dermatitis, eye irritations, respiratory problems, gastroenteritis, and in some instances liver or kidney failure and death.
As for all the pathogens and parasites in our dog’s doo-doo, they pollute the water too. Dog poop is accountable for 20% of bacteria found in water, causing serious health issues to both humans and animals. In the right conditions, some of these pathogens and parasites can survive in water for months until they infect a new host.
S**t just got real.
Dog Poop Contributes To Global Warming
On a larger scale, we must also consider the impact of dog waste on global warming. Most pet waste ends up in landfill, where even the most diligently wrapped deuce will begin to degrade.
As poop decomposes it releases the greenhouse gas methane, which is 84 times more powerful than CO2 over a 20-year period. While methane is less abundant and has a shorter lifespan than CO2, it is far more effective at trapping heat. Just small increases in the amount of methane in the atmosphere can significantly impact the speed the planet warms.
If all the 159 million dogs in the US and Europe produce an average of 0.2kg of poop per day, the total daily amount would weigh 31,800,000kg. That’s more than 35,000 tons of poop going into the environment or landfill every single day!
To give that a visual representation, that’s more than three times the weight of the Eiffel Tower. Or, the weight of around 175 blue whales.
Although methane has many sources, our pup’s poops are just adding to the problem.
Does picking up after your dog stop methane from being released into the atmosphere? For the most part, no. Most dog poop ends up wrapped in a bag and sent off to landfill. There it will eventually break down and over time methane seeps out into the atmosphere.
Dog poop has an impact on the environment no matter how you dispose of it, however, we can reduce its impact.
Composting is the most environmentally friendly way to dispose of dog poop. Oxygen, water, and microbes that are present during the composting process allow pet waste to break down in a way that is less harmful to the environment and minimises the amount of methane that is released. If you can, composting really is the way to go.
To find out more about how to compost dog poop read our The Ultimate Beginners Guide.
Top Tips So You’re Always Prepared To Scoop The Poop!
If you frequently find yourself unprepared when out walking with your pup, try some of our little hacks so you’re never caught short again!
- If you can, stock up on your favourite brand of poop bags, or have them on a repeat order, so you never run out.
- Keep a stash of poop bags in your favourite dog walking jacket. It may not be glamorous, but you will never be caught out again.
- Keep your poop bags next to your dog’s lead so you don’t forget them.
- Buy a dog poop bag dispenser and attach it to your dog’s leash. Or you can just tie a few bags directly onto the lead.
Not sure what poop bags to buy? Check out our Best Eco-Friendly Poop Bags Review.
The Bottom Line: Why You Should Scoop The Poop
Clearing up after your dog removes almost all the phosphorus and about 50% of the nitrogen (the other 50% is from all the pee, which is, obviously, harder to clear away) that would otherwise pollute the environment. It also helps remove harmful pathogens and parasites, protecting fragile ecosystems and reducing your pet’s impact.
Don’t get me wrong, I get it, no one likes the feel of a warm turd in their hand, regardless of poop bag thickness. However, it is, at the very least, the polite thing to do.