Biodegradable vs. Compostable Holly Kenseth

Holly Kenseth

While managing dog waste is far from the most exciting aspect of having a dog, it goes with the territory. Pet parents approach dog waste management in several ways, including allowing dogs to poop in their yards, flicking poop into the woods on walks/hikes, and putting it in plastic bags to throw in the garbage. Waste left to break down naturally can run off into water and cause contamination through bacterial proliferation, so many people think they are engaging in an environmentally friendly practice by placing poop into bags and throwing it into the trash. However, this disposal tactic can be very harmful to the environment when people use the wrong types of bags.

There are dozens of poop bags on the market, and many are labeled “biodegradable,” which sounds environmentally friendly, but it turns out that biodegradable can be a buzz word that does not always accurately describe the products. In an article written for Treehugger in August 2021, Mary Jo DiLonardo cited that “biodegradable doesn’t really mean much; it’s just a marketing term without a legal definition. One 2019 study found that bags marked biodegradable lasted in soil, submerged in seawater, and out in the open air for three years or more.” In another article from the American Kennel Club in June 2021, Gemma Johnstone explained that “much of the waste we scoop ends up in landfill, and, unfortunately, unless it is a highly-rated compostable type, the bag used will take many years to fully degrade,

if at all.” Biodegradable bags that do not decompose quickly are increasing in volume in landfills, which becomes even more problematic as more people continue to add dogs to their households.

The findings are not meant to say that all biodegradable bags are harmful, but a better label to focus on when choosing a poop brand product is “compostable.” Researchers and poop bag manufacturers explain that compostable bags are made of plant starches and do not contain plastics, so they dissolve at a fast rate. Compostable bags typically meet ASTM D6400 criteria which is the standard specification for compostable plastics that indicates these products will break down properly when disposed correctly in a municipal or industrial facility. Earth Rated is a Canadian company that offers compostable bags that meet ASTM D6400 standards. Canada has composting facilities throughout most provinces that accept dog waste, and the Earth Rated compostable bags will quickly break down via heat and oxygen when treated in these facilities. The company notes that it is important to use compostable bags when bringing dog waste to a facility because “non-compostable bags won’t break down in a composting facility. Instead, they will contaminate the batch with plastic.” Unfortunately, the industrial composting of dog poop is not yet widely available in the U.S., but some parks and communities have composting programs, and hopefully this option will become more widespread over time. Also, even if a compostable bag made of vegetable starches ends up in a landfill, it is still better for the environment than plastic bags that do not meet ASTM D6400 certifications. It is always important to carefully read bag labels and descriptions because most compostable bags will meet the

ASTM D6400 certifications, but some bags that are labeled as biodegradable may also meet the standards. As a rule of thumb, purchasing a product that is labeled as compostable may be the best way to protect the environment, but compostable bags tend to be expensive, so it does not hurt to do the research and figure out exactly which ingredients are in a specific product and which certifications are met. A few environmentally friendly brands that stand out are Earth Rated, The Original Poop Bags, Doggy Do Good, and BioBag.

There are other options to consider for those who are interested in composting, but do not live near a municipal composting facility that would be able to effectively manage compostable bags. The American Kennel Club notes that lawn composting with sawdust or wood chips, indoor composting with worms, and an anaerobic process called Bokashi are options for those who would like to try composting at home. The Doggie Dooley is one product that works like a home septic system to naturally compost dog waste. According to the company, “Without additional treatment, dog waste will break down naturally over time from sunlight, rainwater and soil microbe absorption.” While at-home composting practices may be ecologically friendly ways to manage dog waste, it is important to remember that the composted waste should only be used to fertilize flower plants. People should not use the fertilizer on vegetable plants since it might contain trace amounts of waste and bacteria. Spring 2022