| According to The Poop Report, the average dog defecates two to three times every day, producing about ten ounces of waste each time. With Calgary’s dog population currently estimated at over 100,000, that’s close to 26,000 tonnes of dog waste per year — more than twice the weight of the Calgary Tower.
The waste, when collected and disposed of, adds organic matter to city landfills. Unable to break down, the waste then emits harmful methane gas contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. Landfill emissions are Calgary’s largest source of greenhouse gases. Dog waste also creates a health hazard for city workers. In high-use areas, for example at some local dog parks, workers have to transport bags weighing up to 67.5 kilograms. Not only are the bags heavy to collect, they are also smelly and some have broken on workers. When not disposed of properly, dog waste can be picked up with runoff and may contaminate local waterways with bacteria and pathogens.
The Natural Resources Conservation Service in Fairbanks, Alaska took on the issue of dog poop in 1993, when scientists, with funding from the Environmental Protection Agency, began research on how to manage the growing problem. Local dog mushers set up special composters to be used for dog waste and began experimenting. Mushers added different materials, such as straw and wood chips, and they recorded the internal temperature of the compost to see if harmful pathogens could be broken down. Their efforts were successful and composting is now an effective way to turn dog waste into something useful.
The idea hasn’t exactly taken off though. Most people don’t know dog waste can be composted or how to compost it. And many people find the thought of composting dog waste entirely unappealing. There are several commercially made composters available specifically for composting dog waste. Clean Calgary Association’s EcoStore sells one model of composter, "the digester," while others are available online.
Rob Avis started composting his dog’s waste two years ago. "I saw that the waste was going into the trash which I knew was taking up valuable real estate in the landfill." Avis uses the composter for dog waste and kitchen waste including meat scraps. Unlike a conventional composter, the digester does not have any ventilation holes so the waste within it does not create smells. It is also pet proof. Avis placed the digester in a sunny part of his yard so that it could reach temperatures high enough to break down the contents. Despite this, he chooses not to use the compost due to the possibility of pathogens. It is recommended the compost created from dog waste not be used in vegetable gardens, but it is safe for trees and flower beds or it can be left to break down in the composter.
Some municipalities are investigating composting as a way of diverting dog waste from the landfill. Both Ottawa and Vancouver are currently planning pilot projects to trial composting within local parks. Meanwhile, San Francisco has an aggressive plan to deal with animal feces that occupies four per cent of landfill space. Currently, the city diverts two-thirds of its waste and plans to divert 100 per cent by 2020, making animal waste an obstacle that must be dealt with. Known for its tree-hugging ways, the city is about to become the first in North America to build a methane digester, a device that will use bugs and microorganisms to consume the matter and emit methane that will power a turbine to make electricity or heat homes.
While Calgarians await a city-sponsored approach to dog waste diversion, adventurous dog owners can install a backyard poop composter. Because a hole needs to be dug beneath the composter, the best time to do the installation is in the spring. Choosing a sunny spot is best. To get the waste composted more quickly, special accelerators are available. For backyard waste, the poop can be scooped directly into the composter, whereas poop being brought home from the park or a walk needs to be either emptied from a regular plastic bag or disposed of with a biodegradable bag available at most grocery stores and pet stores.
Start composting your dog’s doo today
Make your own composter: http://www.cityfarmer.org/petwaste.html
Buy the digester at the Clean Calgary EcoStore: 809 - 4th Avenue SW or call: 230-1443
An online source for a variety of composters and biodegradable poop bags. http://www.composters.com/main_water.html#pwm |
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