By Jinwook Kim, Edward Kim
According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a single gram of dog feces can contain up to 23 million fecal coliform bacteria. In addition, the EPA estimates that there are approximately 83 million dogs in the United States.
If each dog produces half a pound of waste per day, that will amount to 41.5 million pounds of dog feces produced daily, and It is equivalent to 267,500 tractor-trailers filled with dog poop, which, if lined up, would stretch over 3,800 miles from Boston to Seattle. This adds up to a staggering 10 million tons of waste dogs produce yearly.
When not properly disposed of, this trash can significantly impact the environment, including water pollution and soil contamination. Therefore, dog owners must take responsibility for properly disposing of their pet's waste to minimize these negative impacts.
Concerning this, it is worth noting that dog feces contains nutrients that can contribute to the formation of toxic algae blooms when washed down storm drains and into bodies of water such as streams and oceans.
This, in turn, leads to oxygen depletion and the creation of dead zones in coastal habitats.
Dog feces is not only unpleasant and unsightly, but it is also a hazardous environmental pollutant and a threat to human health. When left on the ground, the waste decomposes and eventually enters our water supply, contaminating local waterways such as rivers, creeks, and streams.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, pet waste carries several bacteria, parasites, and diseases that humans can transmit. For instance, dog feces can transmit various worms affecting people, particularly children. Roundworms, common in dogs, can survive in the soil for many years. The CDC reports that 14 percent of Americans test positive for these worms.
In addition to worms, dog waste can contain campylobacter bacteria, which can cause severe gastrointestinal issues in infants, older adults, and individuals with weakened immune systems. Other dangerous pathogens in dog waste include
E. coli, parvovirus, and salmonella.
Also, according to an op-ed published on November 2nd regarding dogs and their environmental impact stated that methane was a 30% more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide.
However, recent research suggests that the effect of methane on climate change is at least 30 times greater than that of carbon dioxide over 100 years.
Moreover, plastic bags used to dispose of dog poop are a significant contributor to municipal waste in San Francisco, making up 4% of the city's landfill waste, equivalent to the number of disposable diapers that the town disposes of. As Earth Day approaches, please remember that cleaning up after your dog is a legal requirement in most places and a civic duty.
As a solution, dog poop can be turned into energy through a process called anaerobic digestion, which happens when organic waste breaks down in an oxygen-free environment. The process creates a biogas that can be burned for heat and energy. Any leftover waste is used for fertilizer.
Waterloo, Ontario has been testing this program for the past year, and the city of Ottawa is also looking into it. Mississauga, Ontario is planning to install waste receptacles for dog poop across their city as part of a pilot project.
The UK's first dog-poo powered street lamp works by collecting dog feces in a hatch, which is then broken down by microorganisms in an anaerobic digester to produce methane, which fuels the light, as well as fertilizers.
As mentioned before, as dog ownership increases, so will the amount of waste produced by our dogs, making programs like these more important in managing and repurposing the waste.
These innovative projects demonstrate that dog waste and other excrement have a valuable potential as a renewable energy source that can be harnessed sustainably.
Implementing more of these programs in the future can help reduce our impact on the environment, promote sustainability, and move us towards a more circular economy where waste is minimized and resources are used more efficiently.
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