Earth Day – Tips On Being Environmentally Friendly Pet Parents

April 7, 2020

Earth Day 2020 occurs on April 22 and reminds us to be as environmentally conscious as we can be. Every individual has the responsibility to keep the earth and its majestic mountains, vast oceans, and bustling cities clean and free of pollution. As pet parents, we also have this responsibility on behalf of our pets as we want them to enjoy a clean and hazard-free environment. Here are our tips to be environmentally friendly pet parents.

1. Biodegradable bags

Everyday plastic bags are cluttering our oceans and as a result, are often ingested by ocean wildlife. These everyday non-biodegradable plastics also fill our landfills, where they can remain for 10 -1000 years (the normal decomposition time for these items).

 We can make a difference as pet owners and decrease the number of plastics polluting the earth. While we don’t have a choice when it comes to picking up our pup’s poop, we do have a choice in the type of bags we use to do the task. We recommend that you opt for biodegradable bags. We also suggest that you do your research as many poop bags aren’t as biodegradable as they claim to be because they require a specific type of environment in order to biodegrade.  Landfills are designed to mummify waste through compression and lack of oxygen which isn’t ideal for biodegradable bags or plastics in general. 

2. Understand and practice composting

Composting is a great way to use biodegradable bags and waste inside of them. If you aren’t sure where to start we recommend following these tips when it comes to composting them.

• Don’t throw these poop bags in the regular trash as they will end up in the landfill
• Don’t put these poop bags with your garden compost, as the pathogens in dog waste can be harmful
• Do use dog only composting bins
• Do bring the waste to an industrial composting facility that accepts pet waste
• Do hire a company to collect and compost the waste for you 

3. Pooper Scooper

If you want to ditch plastic bad completely and save yourself the step of composting you can purchase a pooper scooper. It allows you to pick up dog waste hands-free and hold the waste in a compartment as you finish your walk. You can simply flush the poop or bury it away from your garden and water lines. 

4. Participate in Earth day virtually 

With quarantine in effect for most cities, it’s likely that most Earth Day parades will be canceled but that doesn’t mean you can’t participate in earth day activities. The theme for this year’s earth day is Climate Action. Visit the https://www.earthday.org/earth-day-2020/ to find out how you can take action and show your support virtually. 

What are some of the ways that you reduce your carbon footprint?