With the average U.S. citizen generating 4.34 lbs. of garbage per day in 2009, compost appeals to many eco-conscious people because of its ability to reduce the amount of trash sent out to the landfill or incinerator each week. Pet owners, in particular, might want to reduce the amount of dog feces or cat litter they send to the curb. Although you can compost livestock manures, pet wastes probably should not be composted except by people experienced with the process.
Pet Waste Dangers
Pet wastes shouldn't go into compost piles because they can contain organisms that can potentially cause illness and death in humans. In addition to bacteria that can cause skin and gastrointestinal infections, dog feces can also contain parasitic worms that can infect humans, causing fevers, respiratory problems and vision difficulties. These pathogens can infect people when compost comes into contact with food crops or when you handle compost as part of routine maintenance and use. Composing pet waste requires great care in handling and monitoring temperatures, as well as keeping the compost away from children and other pets until it is mature.
Pets and the Environment
Pet wastes can exert a negative impact on the environment by polluting water sources. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reports that, in Seattle, 20 percent of bacteria found in water samples came from dogs. To minimize your pooch's impact, avoid letting him defecate near streams or other water sources that can carry contaminants into the water supply. Areas with tall grass exceeded 4 inches in height are better able to filter out pollutants and keep them out of water supplies. Dogs are naturally attracted to tall grass, and you can train your pet to use areas of the yard kept rugged. Finally, pick up and dispose of pet waste properly.
Disposing of Pet Waste
If you want to avoid putting pet waste in the garbage, you have a few options. As long as your dog's wastes aren't mixed with other materials, you can flush them down the toilet, where public sewage treatment or septic systems will break wastes down. You can also bury pet wastes. Dig a hole a foot deep, add a layer of pet wastes 3 to 4 inches deep and mix them with the soil at the bottom of the hole. Fill in the hole, and soil microbes will go to work breaking the wastes down. While you can bury pet wastes near ornamental gardens, keep them clear of food crops to prevent contamination.
Livestock manures can benefit a compost pile by adding nutrients and organic matter. Unfortunately, pet wastes generally pose too many risks to contribute the same benefits. Even livestock manure can contain pathogens and requires special handling. Wear protective gear like boots and gloves, and wash your hands after you handle manure. Don't apply manure-based compost or compost tea to plants that are ready to harvest for food.
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; Municipal Solid Waste Generation, Recycling, and Disposal in the United States: Facts and Figures for 2009; December 2010
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; Source Water Protection Practices Bulletin: Managing Pet and Wildlife Waste to Prevent Contamination of Drinking Water; July 2001
- "Rodale's Ultimate Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening"; Fern Marshall Bradley, et al., editors; 2009
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