Why is pet waste bad for streams? Doesn’t it just break down and go into the soil?
More than 126,000 dogs live in Snohomish County, producing waste equivalent to a city of 40,000 people. More than 20 tons of dog waste are dropped in Snohomish County backyards every day! Pet waste is a leading cause of bacterial contamination of streams in Snohomish County’s streams. E. Coli, Cryptosporidium, Campylobacteriosis, Toxocariasis, Toxoplasmosis, and Giardia, are all microorganisms that can be transmitted from pet waste to humans, with undesirable results. Some of these harmful organisms can persist in dog waste for more than two weeks in your yard. Children who play outside and adults who garden are at greatest risk of infection. Composting your pet’s waste does not reliably destroy the harmful organisms. Pet waste also causes the same nitrogen related problems as fertilizer. Landfills are designed to safely handle substances such as dog waste, cat litter, and dirty diapers. The solution is safe and easy. 1) Scoop the poop, 2) put it in a plastic bag, 3) place it in the tr
