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Dear Tee Cee, I have cats and a dog, and I was wondering if I could compost their feces? I use a natural cat litter and was thinking about buying compostable bags to bag the litter and to clean up after my dog. I know it doesn’t go in the backyard compost, I would put it in my city of Longmont compost cart.

Hi AJ, That’s a great question. Animal wastes are made up of organic materials and break down in nature, and manure is used to improve soil health, so it might seem logical that dog and cat waste could be composted. While you might find some sources online that claim that pet waste is compostable, the city of Longmont and their industrial composting partner, A1 Organics, ask that pet waste go in the trash and stay out of the compost bin. The only exception to the rule is when you use designated dog poop compost collection spots, particularly in some select trailheads in Boulder. Here are a few reasons why dog and cat waste needs to stay out of your backyard compost cart:

Pet waste can contain parasites and bacteria, including E. coli, salmonella, and parasitic worms. Even industrial composting facilities don’t achieve high enough temperatures to eliminate these parasites and bacteria, even though they can break down many more challenging organic materials such as bones.  Remember, compost is used to help soils produce healthy crops, including fruits and vegetables. It’s best to minimize the risk of spreading diseases by keeping pet waste out of compost.

Cat litter can be made of all sorts of compostable materials, such as paper or wood chips, but that does not mean that litter soiled with cat poop or urine should be composted. Cat poop in particular can carry a common parasite called Toxoplasma gondii that negatively affects human health. Again, compost piles don’t get hot enough to kill these parasites, so cat litter should go to the landfill. To minimize the risk of Toxoplasma gondii, keep your cat’s litter box clean and always wash your hands after scooping litter.

This one is particularly tricky. The only reason to buy certified compostable dog poop bags is if you are using a compost collection bin specifically designed for dog waste that is located at a few trailheads in the area. However, compostable poop bags are already provided at participating trailheads. These bins are collecting dog waste only and it is going to a compost facility designed specifically for dog waste.

If you are using these specially designed trailhead bins, please use the bags provided as they are certified compostable. There are MANY “greenwashing” dog waste bags for sale at pet food stores that tout themselves as “biodegradable.” That term is DIFFERENT from compostable. Biodegradable usually means that the bag is made from a combination of plant-based plastic and petroleum-based plastic. These bags are, in some ways, worse than a regular plastic bag as the plant-based component of the bag will break down eventually, but the petroleum-based components will not. So, what you’re left with is microscopic “microplastics” that can far more easily get into our water and soils.

Some companies are working on more widespread, innovative solutions to sustainably handle pet wastes and turn it into compost. But for now, pet wastes should go in the landfill, except in the case of limited trailhead programs.

If you have more questions about the most sustainable options for managing tricky types of waste, send Eco-Cycle an email at recycle@ecocycle.org or call 303-444-6634.

Have Zero Waste questions? Want to become a volunteer Eco-Leader? Let us know at Rosie@ecocycle.org

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