# What to do with dog poop... **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 21, 2003, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-dog-poop/196707 "2003-08-21T16:17:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-dog-poop/196707/21 "2003-08-22T01:55:50Z")
> [@](#): > > Composting is the way to go Not in your part of the world Antechinus, at least not if you believe your own governments. “Clean up after your dog - faeces can contaminate ground… **Do not put in compost bin.** www.nrm.qld.gov.au/education/modules/junior\_secondary/ sec\_biodiversity/resourcesheet10.html “do not throw meat or dog faeces into the compost bin.” [http://www.adelaide.sa.gov.au/council/community/pest\_control.htm](http://www.adelaide.sa.gov.au/council/community/pest_control.htm) “What to leave out Cat and dog droppings (which can spread disease)” [http://www.env.qld.gov.au/environment/environment/waste/c.html](http://www.env.qld.gov.au/environment/environment/waste/c.html) “Almost anything that was once part of a plant or animal can be composted …. Dog and cat manures are best buried in the garden as they can be a source of parasites” www.wollongong.nsw.gov.au/Downloads/Documents/ Fact\_Sheet\_-\_Composting.pdf ---
**Author:** ![antechinus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/fbc32d/32.png) [@antechinus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antechinus)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-dog-poop/196707/22 "2003-08-22T02:17:38Z")
Blake, Read up on **composting toilets**. You can put the resultant manure on your garden. If you have a lid on the composter, and a covering of lawn clippings it should be very difficult for flies to reach any faeces. Also from [here](http://www.nature-loo.com.au/tech.html) > [@](#): > > "An important function of the composting process is the destruction of pathogens. Most are killed in the thermophilic stage. Composting at temperatures above 55 degrees C. for 1 day kills almost all pathogens. ’ ---
**Author:** ![antechinus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/fbc32d/32.png) [@antechinus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antechinus)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-dog-poop/196707/23 "2003-08-22T02:42:11Z")
and… [http://www.uaf.edu/coop-ext/compost/dogs.html](http://www.uaf.edu/coop-ext/compost/dogs.html) [http://www.weblife.org/humanure/default.html](http://www.weblife.org/humanure/default.html) Specifically [http://www.weblife.org/humanure/chapter7.html](http://www.weblife.org/humanure/chapter7.html) > [@](#): > > A thermophilic compost pile will destroy pathogens, including worm eggs, quickly, possibly in a matter of minutes. Lower temperatures require longer periods of time, > possibly hours, days, weeks, or months, to effectively destroy pathogens. One need not strive for extremely high temperatures such as 65°C (150°F) in a compost pile to feel > confident about the destruction of pathogens. It may be more realistic to maintain lower temperatures in a compost pile for longer periods of time, such as 50°C (122°F) for > 24 hours, or 46°C (115°F) for a week. According to one source, “All fecal microorganisms, including enteric viruses and roundworm eggs, will die if the temperature > exceeds 46°C (114.8°F) for one week.” 42 Other researchers have drawn similar conclusions, demonstrating pathogen destruction at 50°C (122°F), which produced compost > “completely acceptable from the general hygienic point of view.” 43 The sites you cited are using the precautionary principle - not trusting readers to build and maintain an effective composter. I googled just as many saying it is OK. ---
**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-dog-poop/196707/24 "2003-08-22T03:27:22Z")
> [@](#): > > Read up on composting toilets. You can put the resultant manure on your garden. I am quite familiar with composting toilets. Composting toilets however are to home compost what a toxic waste dump is to a backyard midden. I fail to see the relevance. > [@](#): > > If you have a lid on the composter, and a covering of lawn clippings it should be very difficult for flies to reach any faeces. Not at all. All composters have air holes o allow the compost to breathe. If they don’t then you have big problems. If they do the hoels will be more than large enough to allw the entry of maggots. DO a Google search on soldier flies and compost and tell me what you learn. > [@](#): > > I googled just as many saying it is OK. Want to bet I Googled far more sites confirming the moon landings were a hoax? You’ll understand if I trust my government and university sites over your sites. [http://www.uaf.edu/coop-ext/compost/dogs.html](http://www.uaf.edu/coop-ext/compost/dogs.html) gives specific instructions on how to compost dog manure and sawdust, and only dog manure and sawdust, It is not normal home composting. I would liken it to you finding a site with instructions on how to prepare fugu and using that as evidence that it is safe to eat puffer fish. Very specific instructions on how to make a potentially dangerous sbstance safe does not warrant laiming it is safe. [Weblife.org](http://Weblife.org) is just an online publishing organisation. It isn’t particular more credible than a moon hoax site. Al though it says “According to one source” that source is never actually referenced in a manner that we can access. Note that one of the few tracable references it does give suggests that "The effective processes are those that either make the excreta warm (55°C/131°F), hold it for a long time (one year), or feature some effective combination of time and temperature.” How many home compost systems hold material at 55oC for 12 months? Of course you can believe it as you wish. I’ll stick with what the actual authorities have to say. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-dog-poop/196707/25 "2003-08-22T03:37:04Z")
If your dog decides he/she likes to dig, you’ll want to take that poop and put it in the holes he/she digs. That was recommended to me and it has cut down on my dog’s digging alot. I don’t have anything else to add because I’m lucky enough to live next to a freeway fence and in front of some woods. Poop goes there. Helps keep critters away if they are smart enough to know what a dog smells like (or I’d like to think so). ---
**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-dog-poop/196707/26 "2003-08-22T04:03:46Z")
> [@](#): > > Will composting dog and cat manure make it safe for use on gardens? > Composting would sterilize the manure and make it safe for use if the temperature of the compost heap exceeds 165oF for about five days. Unfortunately, backyard compost heaps rarely reach this temperature, and the outer several inches never do. [http://www.extension.umn.edu/projects/yardandgarden/ygbriefs/h238manure-dog-cat.html](http://www.extension.umn.edu/projects/yardandgarden/ygbriefs/h238manure-dog-cat.html) > [@](#): > > These would include food scraps (unless you have a really hot pile, don’t add meat; it attracts animals), fresh garden waste such as grass clippings, and animal manure (except for cat or dog feces; it can contain disease pathogens). [http://www.humboldt.edu/~recycle/htmls/news/octnov96/pg4.htm](http://www.humboldt.edu/~recycle/htmls/news/octnov96/pg4.htm) > [@](#): > > Human, cat or dog feces may transmit diseases and should not be used. www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/garden/07212.html > [@](#): > > For the same reason, cat anddog feces, which can carry pathogens, should not be added tocompost piles. info.ag.uidaho.edu/resources/PDFs/CIS1066.pdf > [@](#): > > Whilst composting for a backyard or community garden does not entail the problems of scale that face agricultural operations, there still remain health related matters that need to be addressed. These potential risks concern both the type of material used for composting, as well as the composting process itself. There is the initial risk from direct contact with manure when it is moved, and the subsequent risk of indirect exposure from run off if the pile is exposed to rain. Insects, birds and rodents can also spread pathogens present in fresh manure to other parts of the garden site and surrounding areas. The use of manure in a home garden/community garden setting cannot be recommended, and the reader is directed to the resources listed at the end of this publication for information on composting in the home garden. miami-dade.ifas.ufl.edu/programs/urbanhort/publications/ PDF/Gardening-Infectious-Disease.PDF > [@](#): > > manure (no cat or dog droppings [http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/county/smith/compost/composttext.html](http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/county/smith/compost/composttext.html) > [@](#): > > A link between animal waste and raw vegetables as vehicles for infection with Listeria was made in the early 1980’s in an outbreak involving cole slaw made from cabbage that had been grown with manure from infected sheep. More resistant to heat than other non-spore forming food borne bacteria, Listeria has been found to survive in food scrap compost for short periods at temperatures up to 173EF, well above the temperature of most compost piles miami-dade.ifas.ufl.edu/programs/urbanhort/publications/ PDF/Gardening-Infectious-Disease.PDF ---
**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-dog-poop/196707/27 "2003-08-22T04:23:01Z")
> [@](#): > > Cat and dog l i t t e r can contain harmful agents which are not always killed by the heat of the compost p i l e . www.montana.edu/wwwpb/pubs/mt9203.pdf > [@](#): > > Dial-U Insect and Plant Information Brief on "Using Dog & Cat Manure in Home Gardens. This was written by R. E. Hall, Ext. Veterinarian, and Emmett Schulte, Ext. Soil Scientist, University of Wisconsin - Madison. According to their report, "composting would sterilize the manure and make it safe for use _if_ the temperature of the compost heap _exceeds 165 degrees F_ for about five days. “Unfortunately, backyard compost heaps rarely reach this temperature, and the outer several inches never do.” They state unequivocally that, “The health hazards associated with cat and dog manure are greater than the potential benefit from its fertilizer value. > Cat and dog manure should be disposed of by flushing down the toilet, burying deep in the soil (six inches or more) or by placement in tight plastic bags for garbage collection.” > The answer is clear: don’t use pet poop as a fertilizer. lists.extension.umn.edu/pipermail/ mastgar/1998-April/000451.html ---
**Author:** ![ChunkyLover53](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c0e974/32.png) [@ChunkyLover53](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChunkyLover53)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-dog-poop/196707/28 "2003-08-22T12:03:14Z")
Wow - thanks for all of the feedback. I think I won’t be composting just to be sure. I like the idea of biodegradable plastic bags - why aren’t they more available and widespread? I’ll assume due to increased cost. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-dog-poop/196707/29 "2003-08-22T12:17:15Z")
I pick mine up with toilet paper and flush it down the toilet. I’m bad, I know… ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-dog-poop/196707/30 "2003-08-22T14:16:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ChunkyLover53 \* > \*\*I like the idea of biodegradable plastic bags - why aren’t they more available and widespread? I’ll assume due to increased cost. \*\* Yeah, they are a little pricey. I see that the site I linked to has them pretty cheap in bulk, but I don’t need THAT many! (But if you would use them every day, the bulk case may well be a good option for you.) I buy them at [Petco](http://www.petco.com/Productlisting.asp?tab=1&c1=283&ct1=Indoor+%26+Outdoor+Cleanup&c2=286&ct2=Pick+Up+Bags&Dept_ID=286) for about $12 per box of 24. I figure it’s worth 50 cents a pop (a buck a poop?) not to have to pick up warm turds with my hands, even if it is through plastic. And we usually leave the bag open until we’re sure both dogs are done, so sometimes we get two poops for the price of one. **An Arky,** why would it be bad to put dog poop and toilet paper in the toilet? That’s what we’ve always done whenever we had puppy accidents in the house. Although I can’t say I’d want to bring it in the house from outside. ---
**Author:** ![TJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@TJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TJay)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-dog-poop/196707/31 "2003-08-22T16:24:55Z")
I use biodegradeable nappy sacks (or diaper sacks in the US?) - you can get them here in the UK from most big supermarkets - maybe thats an idea? ---
**Author:** ![Yeah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/dbc845/32.png) [@Yeah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeah)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-dog-poop/196707/32 "2003-08-22T17:01:40Z")
“For the love of Mike, listen to the experts and not Yeah.” That’s fine with me but it happens that I am an expert. My day job is preventing the transmission of infectious diseases for what is, many people would say, the world’s premier disease control agency. I have been doing this for 20+ years all over the world. I’m familiar with everything you cite but I stand by what I said. (What I said, by the way, did not include any recommendation to compost either dog poop or used diapers.) I am confident that if you had more information about the subject you would be better able to assess the advice given on the internet and would agree with me. ---
**Author:** ![Yeah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/dbc845/32.png) [@Yeah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeah)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-dog-poop/196707/33 "2003-08-22T17:16:25Z")
“For the love of Mike, listen to the experts and not Yeah.” That’s fine with me but it happens that I am an expert. My day job is preventing the transmission of infectious diseases for what is, many people would say, the world’s premier disease control agency. I have been doing this for 20+ years all over the world. I’m familiar with everything you cite but I stand by what I said. (What I said, by the way, did not include any recommendation to compost either dog poop or used diapers.) I am confident that if you had more information about the subject you would be better able to assess the advice given on the internet and would agree with me. ---
**Author:** ![Thylacinewas\_taken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@Thylacinewas\_taken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thylacinewas_taken)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-dog-poop/196707/34 "2003-08-22T18:25:31Z")
Or you could leave it in some sucker’s yard. That’s what people in my neigborhood do!! ---
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-dog-poop/196707/35 "2003-08-22T21:28:32Z")
Pick it up with bio-degradeable plastic of paper bags, a sheet of of plain ordinary newpaper works well also. Put it in the garbage pick up to go to a land-fill. Toilet paper and flush down the commode, it will be processed with all the other human and kitchen waste and the effluent from the sewage disposal plant is alleged to be equal to or possilby better that the water treatment plant that supplies your drinking water! How many time is the same water cycled through a water treatment plant, used in a city or town, exits downstream via the sewage treatment plant to the same river before it gets to the Gulf of Mexico? Ugh! ---
**Author:** ![jacksen9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ce73a5/32.png) [@jacksen9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jacksen9)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-dog-poop/196707/36 "2003-08-22T22:54:43Z")
I use put my plastic bags with with poop into the giant size coffee can with a lid on top. Once a week, I empty all of it into a trash bag and put it out for trash pick-up. The can stinks so I fill it almost half way with Clorox for about two or three hours. The can still stinks but I only smell it when the lid is off, which is only briefly until trash day. Is this unhealthy? Oh and every three weeks or so, I get a new coffee can. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2003, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-dog-poop/196707/37 "2003-08-23T01:59:59Z")
Wow. **Blake**. That’s a lot of links you’ve got there. But I’m sorry to tell you that you’re not correct. Human feces have been and still are used to fertilize food crops all over the world. The reason why virtually every information source aimed at the average home composter says not to compost dog or human feces is that the average home composter doesn’t maintain his or her pile in such a way as to ensure the destruction of pathogens. It’s good general beginner advice, but it can’t be taken as evidence that poop should not or can not be composted if it’s done carefully. In fact the goal of most composting information out there is to convince people that composting is easy. Many people think it’s better to just tell people not to compost the problematic things than to tell them how to do it properly. The problem is that these recommendations for beginners somehow become gospel. You can definitely compost poop, meat, dairy, and all sorts of things that are supposed to be big no-nos. But **antechinus** ’s assertions that dog and human feces are rendered safe by ordinary home composting are misleading at best. He posts some links from the Humanure website, including one that says that a thermophilic compost pile will destroy the pathogens. But as I said above, the average home composter can not ensure sufficient thermophilic action. **Antechinus** also fails to point out is that Joseph Jenkins doesn’t rely on only the thermophilic action of the compost pile to render the humanure safe for use on food crops. He leaves each pile for about two years before he uses the compost. Even the most active proponent of humanure composting indicates that human and dog feces need to be composted in a certain way to ensure safety. The answer is that human and dog feces CAN be composted IF it’s done correctly. Many people succesfully compost their dogs’ waste and/or their own waste. Several people in this thread have described acceptable methods for dealing with it. But if you’re not willing to take the time to do it right, you probably shouldn’t do it at all. **Yeah** claims to be an expert. I’m not an expert, but I’m a true-blue composting freak. I love to do it, talk about it, read about it. I’m pretty knowledgable on the subject. And in my non-expert but certainly knowledgable opinion, **Yeah** is correct. ---
**Author:** ![antechinus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/fbc32d/32.png) [@antechinus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antechinus)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2003, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-dog-poop/196707/38 "2003-08-24T03:18:19Z")
As I pointed out earlier **Green Bean** , if the reader maintains an effective composter, the risk presented by the composting of dog faeces is controlled. The post to the humanure site was simply intended to point out that temperature and time destroys pathogens. If the ‘average home composter’ cannot maintain a composter that will not attract vectors and not support thermophilic action, then the risk is not managed. The sites that **blake** quoted are applying a percautionary approach because they do not want to be held liable. Taking a risk management appraoch - the more dog/human faeces you add to the pile, the better your controls (eg excluding pests, heat, time) must be to manage the risk. I would expect risk arising from adding a few dog poos would be controlled by an ‘average’ composter. The more poos you add, the more vigilant you should be in maintaining these controls ---
**Author:** ![Aankh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ebca7d/32.png) [@Aankh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aankh)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-dog-poop/196707/39 "2003-08-25T11:41:25Z")
[Power your house with it.](http://home.att.net/~cat6a/fuels-II.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Psifireus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Psifireus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Psifireus)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-dog-poop/196707/40 "2003-08-25T11:58:51Z")
Just spray each pile with the water hose until it dissolves. It will fertilize your lawn and won’t hurt anything or anyone. Sheesh, people, it’s poop, move on. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-dog-poop/196707.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-dog-poop/196707.md?page=3)