If there is one thing people don’t like to discuss about their dogs, it’s poop. Specifically how to best get rid of it. Some people have dedicated garbage pails to store their dog’s poop until garbage day rolls around. Others keep bags on their stoops or patios until garbage day. Either way, it is the stinky reality of having a dog. But there is yet another way to dispose of your dog’s poop: a dog poop disposal system.
This post will look at what a dog poop disposal system is, how it works, and options available if this is a route you would like to take to get rid of your dog’s poop.
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Related: Biodegradable And Compostable Poop Bags, Best Long Handled Pooper Scoopers
Why Is Disposing Of Dog Waste Properly So Important?
It is important to dispose of your dog’s waste properly. Dog poop can contain parasites and bacteria that may be harmful to people and the environment. Examples of pathogens carried in dog poop include:
- Salmonella.
- Ringworm.
- Giardia.
- Roundworm.
- Hookworms.
If your dog’s waste is not disposed of properly, rain can wash the stool into drainage systems, streams, and groundwater, contaminating them.
Dog waste gives off nutrients when it breaks down, which can overload streams and lakes, creating a breeding ground for harmful algae.
What Is A Dog Poop Disposal System?
A dog poop disposal system is a system you create in your own yard to dispose of your dog’s waste. This can be done several ways, which will be discussed below.
By using a dog poop disposal system, you will eliminate the need for using plastic bags to pick up after your dog and create a more environmentally friendly way to clean up after your dog.
How Does A Dog Poop Disposal System Work?
A dog poop disposal system works by either flushing your dog’s waste into your own septic system or by using enzymes to break down the poop with a dedicated septic or fermentation system you create in your yard.
Why Should I Use A Dog Poop Disposal System?
There are several benefits to using your own disposal system:
- Offers a “green” way to dispose of your dog’s waste.
- No need to use plastic bags to clean up after your dog.
- Environmentally friendly.
- No more smelly garbage can.
- According to the United States Department of Agriculture, disposal systems help protect water quality.
What Are The Types Of Disposal Systems?
There are 3 types of disposal systems available: using your own septic system, creating your own septic system and fermentation. Let’s look at each one.
Use Your Own Septic System
This type of system uses the cleanout from your own septic or sewer system. An example of this is the Doggie Doo Drain.
To use this type of system, unscrew the cap off of your septic cleanout. Insert the Doggie Doo Drain. When you are ready to dispose of your dog’s waste, simply place it into the Doggie Doo Drain followed by some water. The waste will then be disposed of into your own system.
Pros:
- No need to dig any holes.
- Easy to use.
- No mess.
- Simple to install.
- No smell.
Cons:
- Not good for all septic systems. Check with your sanitation department to see if this is a viable option for you.
Doggie Doo Drain
- Attaches to your septic/sewer system cleanout.
- Screw the Doggie Doo Drain in place of the sewer or septic lid.
- To use it:
- Remove the plug.
- Place waste into the cylinder.
- Rinse down with water.
- Replace the plug.
- Made of plastic.
- Accepts 3 and 4 inch sizes of sewer/septic clean out.
- Made in the USA.
Create Your Own Septic System
To create your own septic system, you need to dig a hole in your yard and insert a tank. An example of this type of disposal system is the Doggie Dooley Septic Style Dog Waste Disposal System and the K9 Kennel Store In-Ground Dog Kennel Septic Tank.
To use this style of disposal, you will need to dig a hole in your yard that is at least 4 feet deep. The tank is then placed inside the hole and has a cover on top.
When putting in your dog’s waste, open the cover with your foot and place the poop inside. Once a week water needs to be added to the tank, along with their “Waste Terminator Tablet” or “K9 Waste Enzymes”. These tablets contain a combination of bacteria and enzymes that work to break down your dog’s waste. Once it is broken down, the waste can then be absorbed into the ground.
It is important to note that since the stool is being absorbed into the ground, it is best not to have the system close to any food source, like a vegetable garden, or near any sources of water to avoid contamination.
Pros:
- Easy to use.
- Breaks down dog waste.
- Can be used in most types of soil.
Cons:
- Cannot be used in hard clay.
- May be tiresome to dig the hole.
- Several holes may need to be dug to find the right kind of soil in your yard that is suitable for the system.
- Doggie Dooley cannot be used in temperatures below 40 degrees F (4 degrees C).
Notes about the Doggie Dooley system according to the manufacturer:
- Waste should be put in every day. Putting a lot in at once (for example once a week) may overload it and it will not work properly.
- Stool needs to be kept wet and not allowed to dry out.
- There will always be some waste at the bottom of the tank.
Doggie Dooley Septic Style Dog Waste Disposal System
- Galvanized steel tank.
- Has a polyethylene lid that opens with the press of your foot.
- Comes fully assembled.
- Can be used in most types of soil.
- Cannot be used in clay.
- Put dog waste into the system.
- Once a week, add water and Doggie Dooley Waste Terminator Tablet.
- Holds waste of up to 2 large dogs or 4 small dogs.
- Digester is a blend of bacteria and protein enzymes that work together to break down dog waste.
- Cannot be used in temperatures below 40 degrees F.
- Waste needs to be added each day. Waiting to add waste at the end of the week will overload it.
- Stool needs to remain wet and not allowed to dry out.
- There will always be residual waste on the bottom of the tank.
Check Price At: Amazon, Chewy, Doggie Dooley
K9 Kennel Store In-Ground Dog Kennel Septic Tank
- Holds 5 gallons of water.
- Assembly required.
- Foot operated lid.
- Good for 1 large dog or 2 small dogs.
- Comes with starter digestive enzymes.
- Converts dog waste into liquid that can then be absorbed into the ground.
- Insect free.
- Odor free.
- Suitable for all soil types except hard clay.
- K9 Waste Enzymes are a bacteria that breaks down the feces.
- Container is made to withstand the elements.
- Container is made to avoid leaks.
Check Price At: K9 Kennel Store
Fermentation
This works by adding your dog’s stool to a bucket filled with water mixed with a fermenter, culture, and accelerant. This in turn breaks down your dog’s waste, killing any pathogens that may be in the stool. What is left over gets poured out and mixed into soil, providing nutrients to help plants grow.
Pros:
- Does not contaminate groundwater.
- Easy to use.
- Breaks down pet waste.
- Eliminates odor.
- No need to dig a hole in your yard.
Cons:
- Need multiple supplies to process your dog’s waste.
- Takes about a week for waste to break down.
- Need to bury the fermented waste in soil for a week before using it.
Bokashi Pet Cycle Fermentation System
- Kills pathogens.
- Breaks down pet waste.
- Eliminates most odors.
- Comes with all materials you need to get started.
- Restores nutrients and microbes to soil.
- Reduces greenhouse gas production by breaking down pet waste without oxygen.
- Soil suitable for ornamental plants.
- Eliminates methane production.
- Removes risk of getting parasites into groundwater.
Check Price At: BokashiCycle
Is It Ok To Bury Dog Waste In Your Backyard?
Generally speaking, it is not a good idea to bury dog waste in your backyard. This also goes for leaving your dog’s stool out to decompose. For reasons stated above, this can lead to contamination of groundwater.
It is possible to bury your dog’s waste if the hole is at least a foot deep and covered in at least 8 inches of soil, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Is It Ok To Flush Dog Poop Down The Toilet?
For most areas, it is safe and even recommended, to flush your dog’s poop down the toilet.
The reason for this is that the stool will then go to a sewage treatment facility where the parasites that may be in your dog’s feces will be destroyed.
Dog waste is not something we like to talk about but is par for the course when you have a dog. A dog poop disposal system offers a greener way to dispose of your dog’s stool without the use of plastic bags. It also allows you to gradually get rid of waste without the smelliness of keeping it in a bin until garbage day.
Please check out our other posts on Health, Indoor, Outdoor, and Travel accessories for your dog, as well as Reviews of various products and travel destinations.