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A Colorado
initiative
Experimentation and production
of DOGGONE GOOD COMPOST® began in late
Summer 2008 at a commercial composting site
north of Denver, Colorado. Tons of dog waste
from the Broomfield County Commons Dog Park
and the Westminster Hills Dog Park was combined
with pine bark, natural enzymes and mychorrizae
and commercially composted, cured, tested
and bagged. Waste collection, composting,
distribution. The finished product is now
being sold at local
retail centers as Doggone Good Compost
and Doggone Good Potting Soil Mixture.
Composting reduces the volume of dog waste
by approximately 50%, so a large amount
of raw material is needed for production.
For this reason, "contributions"
by municipalities, parks and trails services,
nonprofit shelters, and dog daycares are
essential. See
the KMGH Channel 7 news clip on how the
program works in Westminster.
Participation
and benefits
EnviroWagg currently operates
a collection route along the Santa Fe Drive
- I-25 corridor from Englewood to the composting
site. Pick-up locations include parks
and other green partners that dispose
of large quantities of dog waste. We haul
and compost waste from businesses and shelters
for a fee comparable to other recyclers.
We solicit sponsorships to cover the cost
of services for dog parks.
A composting program at public parks offers
municipalities opportunities to educate
visitors about sustainability and local
environment issues,
- encourage participation
in other local recycling programs,
- motivate dog owners
to pick up after their pets,
- support the use of
compostable bags and responsible disposal,
and
- defuse antagonism between
dog owners and non-dog owners by keeping
public spaces clean.
See Join
Us for details on establishing a dog
waste composting program at your local dog
park.
Dog daycares and shelters that upcycle their
dog waste are showing their customers and
donors that they take responsibility for
a safe, clean, sustainable environment.
EnviroWagg is contacting potential clients
as transport routes and drop-off locations
for "clean" dog waste are established.
All recycling
requires planning and effort.
This dog waste composting
project is no exception. But doing the right
thing is its own reward.
"Throwing something away can be fun,
let's admit it; but giving a guilt free
gift to the natural world is an incomparable
pleasure." Cradle to Cradle / Remaking
the Way We Make Things, William McDonough
and Michael Braungart, North Point Press,
2002
Read about do-it-yourself
pet waste recycling
Agencies concerned with
public health discourage pet waste composting.
And their concern is justified. If not done
conscientiously and with consistent effort,
the result could be pollution, odor and
illness.
That said, a quick online search will tell
you that many households and organizations
evolving toward sustainability are finding
unique ways to return pet waste back to
nature. In addition to composting, options
include pet waste septic systems, burial,
flushing into municipal septic sewers, vermiculture
and bokashi.
A few warnings!
- Keep inground pet waste septic systems
and burial trenches away from house foundations,
tree rooting, and ground water.
- All decomposition grinds to a stop when
temperatures drop below 40 degrees F. Bury
inground septic systems below frost line
for your area. Adding a PVC pipe entry at
the top will allow you to bury containers
deeper.
- When you recycle pet waste, do not include
film bags. Even certified compostable bags
will slow the process and take a long time
to degrade. The plastics in bags identified
as "biodegradable" may never properly
degrade. Paper bags and newspaper work best
because they add carbon to offset the waste.
- Dog and cat manure may contain hard-to-kill
pathogens that pose serious health risks.
Do not use do-it-yourself composted dog
or cat manure on vegetable gardens or near
fruit trees. Tubers and other edibles
could become contaminated through direct
contact with the soil. Even thorough washing
may not remove harmful microorganisms.
- Do not flush dog or cat waste into a household
septic tank. Hair in the waste might cause
outflow problems. Flushing into a septic
sewer is OK in most municipal water treatment
facilities. Do not deposit into storm
sewers flowing directly into waterways.
- Commercial grade flushing systems that
connect to septic sewer lines are available
for outdoor installation. Search online
for pet waste flushing or power flush options.
-To avoid clogging plumbing, do not flush
cat litter or waste-filled bags unless the
waste quantity is small and the bags are
specified as "flushable" (usually
alcohol-based film).
Still want to upcycle pet waste? Check out
these do-it-yourself instructions and decide
on a system that works for your situation
and location. Then tweak it so it works
even better!
City Farmer, Canada's Office of Urban Agriculture
- options for back yard disposal
Sierra
Club - helpful information on City Farmer's
lidded trash can disposal system
Video
on building a septic system using large
plastic trash can (note: do not build
near foundations)
Printed
instructions on how to build a septic system
- includes soil requirements
How
to Compost in Alaska (includes the option
of adding mush dog waste)
Two
suggestions for dog waste vermicomposting
(note: dog deworming meds will kill composting
worms!)
The
Dirt Doctor video - yard composting including
dog waste
Bokashi
fermentation for dog waste
Last word: Keep
cat waste away from untreated water sources
as the feces may contain Toxoplasma gondii,
a disease agent affecting otters.
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