http://www.greenlivingonline.com/HomeGarden/green-the-doggie-doo/
(May 1, 2008)
The biggest carbon footprint of our best friends is their daily business. All that pooping and scooping has left a mountain of plastic bags that will be around a lot longer than your favourite pooch. Time to go green with doggie doo!
According to Stats Canada, there are approximately 3.5 million dogs in Canada and according to the APPMA (American Pet Products Manufacturers Association) there are 74.8 million dogs in the USA. That’s a lot of dog poop.
The Midas touch
San Francisco is actually putting it to good use. With close to 120,000 dogs in San Francisco, (there are more dogs than children) the city collects about 6,500 tons of doggie doo. A pilot project started in 2006 by the waste management company Norcal collects all the dog waste and converts it into energy by putting it into an anaerobic digester that converts it to methane gas. Burning the methane produces electricity or a natural gas that be used for heating home or running gas ovens. The two-week long "digestion process" also produces valuable compost for agriculture.
Lose the plastic
So what can you do if you don’t live in San Francisco? Well, first thing -- stop using plastic bags. They just head for the landfill where they sit for the next million year or so. And unless you’re going to compost (see below) those corn-based bio-bags aren’t going to work either. While they are a vast improvement over plastic, the bio-bags still need constant exposure to oxygen to start the decomposition process. The bags will only work if your municipality doesn’t bury its waste lower than 15 feet -- the level where oxygen depletion starts happening.
Next best thing
Although not as convenient as plastic, newspaper or paper bags are at least going to decompose. Unfortunately they’re not the best for rainy weather or if Fido indulged in too much rich food. You may want to supplement the paper with the Skooperbox. These all-in-one boxes (scooper, container, carrier) are made with 100% recycled material that is completely biodegradable. They're very portable and durable.
Dig deep
Go really green with a Doggie Dooley compost system. This miniature septic tank handles all the dog pooh you can offer. Installation is simple: dig a hole, drop it the daily business, add water and digester powder and let the system do its thing. You can use the corn based bio-bags in these systems since they will biodegrade. The units are available at most large pet stores.
Make your own
If you’re really ambitious (or perhaps short on cash) you can build your own composter using a small garbage pail. City Farmer has step-by-step instructions photo and video instructions:Use an old garbage bin. Drill holes in the sides. Use a keyhole saw to cut out and remove the bottom. Dig a hole deep enough for the bin. Put the garbage can into the hole, making sure it’s level. Put in a layer of gravel or rock for drainage. Once you add the dog waste, throw in some septic starter and water. The waste decomposes it will enter the subsoil and that will be left in two years is compost that you can use on ornamental flower beds - NOT on vegetables. Let us know if you get your dog to use the composter directly. We're always on the lookout for new talent.
Shelagh McNally is the editor of Green Living Online. J.J. Potcakes dictated this article to her and prefers paper over plastic on his daily walks.
Green the doggie doo
Image: www.doggiedooley.com
According to Stats Canada, there are approximately 3.5 million dogs in Canada and according to the APPMA (American Pet Products Manufacturers Association) there are 74.8 million dogs in the USA. That’s a lot of dog poop.
The Midas touch
San Francisco is actually putting it to good use. With close to 120,000 dogs in San Francisco, (there are more dogs than children) the city collects about 6,500 tons of doggie doo. A pilot project started in 2006 by the waste management company Norcal collects all the dog waste and converts it into energy by putting it into an anaerobic digester that converts it to methane gas. Burning the methane produces electricity or a natural gas that be used for heating home or running gas ovens. The two-week long "digestion process" also produces valuable compost for agriculture.
Lose the plastic
So what can you do if you don’t live in San Francisco? Well, first thing -- stop using plastic bags. They just head for the landfill where they sit for the next million year or so. And unless you’re going to compost (see below) those corn-based bio-bags aren’t going to work either. While they are a vast improvement over plastic, the bio-bags still need constant exposure to oxygen to start the decomposition process. The bags will only work if your municipality doesn’t bury its waste lower than 15 feet -- the level where oxygen depletion starts happening.
Next best thing
Although not as convenient as plastic, newspaper or paper bags are at least going to decompose. Unfortunately they’re not the best for rainy weather or if Fido indulged in too much rich food. You may want to supplement the paper with the Skooperbox. These all-in-one boxes (scooper, container, carrier) are made with 100% recycled material that is completely biodegradable. They're very portable and durable.
Dig deep
Go really green with a Doggie Dooley compost system. This miniature septic tank handles all the dog pooh you can offer. Installation is simple: dig a hole, drop it the daily business, add water and digester powder and let the system do its thing. You can use the corn based bio-bags in these systems since they will biodegrade. The units are available at most large pet stores.
Make your own
If you’re really ambitious (or perhaps short on cash) you can build your own composter using a small garbage pail. City Farmer has step-by-step instructions photo and video instructions:
Shelagh McNally is the editor of Green Living Online. J.J. Potcakes dictated this article to her and prefers paper over plastic on his daily walks.
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