Every few days, a perpetual internal reminder begins gnawing at me: It’s time to pick up the dog poop. Occasionally, I’ll get one of my teenagers to do the dirty work, but usually I head out to the lawn with the designated bucket and a fine-tine pitchfork — a method borrowed from picking up after horses that’s easier than a shovel. A pitchfork doesn’t leave divots in the lawn like a shovel, and it’s easier for picking up small pieces. Like dogs, teenagers will track dirt (and worse) through the house.
If the average dog poops once a day, that’s at least seven poops a week times two for Willy and Lilac, my spotted Cattle Dog / Collie rescues. If, like me, you live in a rural area, it can be tempting to toss poop in the woods. Resist the urge — dog poop pollutes the environment. If left on the lawn it’s unhygienic, unsightly, and potentially smelly for your neighbors.
What is the best way to dispose of dog poop?
The simplest way to dispose of dog poop is the most common: Bag it and throw it away. Cute and convenient holdersopens in a new tab make this more fun. City and suburban dog parents will find pet waste disposal stations in public parks. People who live in more rural areas should always carry sturdy pet waste disposal bags when they leave the house with their dog.
At home, pick up after your dog regularly,opens in a new tab especially if you have next-door neighbors who can see or — worse — smell the dog poop in your yard. If your dog accidentally poops on your neighbor’s property, pick it up immediately.
Can I throw dog poop in the garbage?
In most urban and suburban settings, throwing dog poop in garbage cans is the normal and likely only way to safely dispose of it.
Unfortunately, those compostable dog poop bags you bought with your strong environmental conscience? They’re not so compostableopens in a new tab after all. “Compostable” means they will in theory break down and leave no harmful materials behind — but only under the right conditions. Try soothing your conscience and the earth with poop bags made from recycled materials.
Dog behaviorist Colby Julien, a trainer at Geo-Sniffingopens in a new tab, an outdoor scent pod discovery game for dogs, offers a hack for people with curbside garbage collection: “Collect poop in a designated smaller bin with a bag in it, then toss the entire bag in the garbage bin on garbage day. I learned this the hard way. If you throw them directly into your city garbage bin they will fall to the bottom. Many times the bin is not fully lifted upside down, leaving tons of poop bags at the bottom of your bin. They can also freeze to the bottom as well.” This hack doubles as a courtesy to garbage handlers.
Don’t ever be that person who doesn’t pick up after their dog. Not even in a snowstorm in the dark of night. You may even find yourself shunned at the dog parkopens in a new tab for this egregious breach of etiquette. Never leave dog poop on the groundopens in a new tab.
That goes for rural, woodsy places, too. If you’re hiking in the woods with your dog, leave no trace applies to dog poop. Bag the poop and carry it out with you. Some argue that if wild animals poop in the woods, why can’t dogs?
Because what dogs eat — the food you buy at the store — isn’t found in nature and contains nutrients that disrupt the balance of natural ecosystems. This is especially important if you’re hiking near waterways where the harmful bacteria in dog poop can make people and wild animals sick.
As distasteful as poop disposal is, it’s a small price to pay for the love of your pup. It’s also an opportunity to play vet and make sure your dog’s poop is normalopens in a new tab.
Can you compost dog poop?
The short answer is yes, as long as you never mix dog waste (or any pet waste) with regular food-grade compostable waste as the bacteria in dog poop will contaminate the compost material and eventually your garden. The same goes for most city composting facilities though you should inquire if your city has a pet waste composting program.
“Yes” refers to an in-ground pet-waste digesteropens in a new tab, an easy DIY compost bin for dog poop that safely breaks down dog waste in your backyard and diverts it from the landfill. Cut the bottom out of an old plastic garbage bin, drill holes up and down the sides and dig a hole deep enough to bury it. Loosely backfill around the bin, toss in a layer of rocks and gravel for drainage and keep it covered with the lid when you’re not using it. Now and then, add septic starter and water to encourage decomposition. Don’t throw bagged poop in the bin, even if the bags are compostable or biodegradable. Over time, enzymes and bacteria turn waste into liquid that’s gradually absorbed several feet underground.
Evie Graham is a waste management expert and owner of the waste management company Direct U.K. She advises dog parents about the correct way to dispose of dog poop. “I got pretty frustrated last month when my neighbor’s ‘eco-friendly’ composting system stunk up our shared backyard, ” Graham says. “After that mess, I did some digging and found out most composting just doesn’t work for pet waste — my own attempts failed miserably too.” Graham uses an 80s-era in-ground digester she found in her parents’ garage. “I got it working again and it actually handles my dog Scout’s waste perfectly.”
One pioneering city in Canada has a new plan for poop. Mississauga, a city in southeastern Ontario, installed in-ground waste units for dog poop that are emptied monthly and sent to a designated processing facility, not the landfill.
Flushing dog poop
In some communities, dog poop can be flushed down the toilet if your home is on a public sewer system. Check with your local waste treatment plant as some are equipped to kill the bacteria in dog poop. Do not flush dog waste if you have a septic system! Dog poop contains grass, hair and the remains of whatever your dog has been chewing. All that potentially backs up your system. Bags especially should not be flushed as they clog pipes.
Graham shares a funny-not-so-funny story about flushing dog poop. “My toilet backed up last week because my son tried flushing those ‘flushable’ poop bags,” she recalls. “What a disaster! Now we just keep a simple bucket system. Works way better.”
Bottom line
Bagging dog poop and throwing it in the trash if you’re away from home is the most responsible way to dispose of it. At home, avoid accumulating waste in the daily trash with an easy DIY in-ground poop digester.
Consult your city’s waste treatment department about pet-waste disposal facilities. If you have your own septic system, avoid flushing poop. Never add dog poop to your home compost pile as it contains harmful germs and potentially pathogenic microorganisms that aren’t safe for anyone.
FAQs
Why is dog poop bad for the environment?
Dog poop is smelly and unsightly but that’s not the worst of it. Left on the ground or the sidewalk it joins storm runoff to pollute public waterways with harmful bacteria. In the woods, it disrupts delicate ecosystems. Then there’s the possibility of tracking it inside, which may ruin your day.
What can I feed my dog to make their poop less smelly?
Some experts say premium, raw diets create smaller poop that’s less likely to make you gag. Others say pumpkin, sweet potatoes and other vegetables combined with meat will reduce odors, though nothing eliminates the smell completely.
Is it safe to bury dog poop in my backyard?
If you have enough yard space (it doesn’t take much) and you don’t want to pollute your trash with dog poop, try making an easy in-ground digester. Consider it a mini eco-friendly septic tank for dog waste. Just make sure to label and secure the lid.
What is the best way to dispose of dog poop?
Sh*t happens. Every day. The best and most convenient way to plan for poop is to be prepared. Never leave home without your dog poop bags and hold onto them until you find a proper receptacle. Some people attach them to their dog’s collar or harness. Others like to carry larger plastic bags or another container to store used poop bags until they reach a garbage bin.
Are biodegradable and compostable dog poop bags good for the environment?
Under the right conditions, yes. But it’s not safe to add dog poop in compostable or biodegradable bags to human-grade compost. Commercial dog waste compost facilities are rare. So, when those so-called eco-friendly compostableopens in a new tab bags are added to the normal waste stream, they don’t break down sooner if at all. Plus, compostable and biodegradable bags are often flimsier and you can guess what that means.
Can I leave dog poop on the ground in the woods?
No. Dog poop contains bacteria that can disrupt the balance of natural environments and pollute waterways. Bag the poop and carry it with you to a receptacle. As a last resort if you run out of bags, bury the poop with a stick.
References
“Avoid Stormwater Poo-llution and Pick Up After Your Pet.” University of Idaho, 2022. www.uidaho.edu/research/entities/iwrri/outreach/our-gem/articles/pet-pollutionopens in a new tab. Accessed 19 Feb. 2025.
College, Community Care. “Potty Training a Dog.” Community Care College, 30 Nov. 2022, communitycarecollege.edu/veterinary-assistant/pet-behavior/doggie-do-dos-donts/. Accessed 19 Feb. 2025.
“FTC Staff Warns Marketers and Sellers of Dog Waste Bags That Their Biodegradable and Compostable Claims May Be Deceptive.” Federal Trade Commission, 3 Feb. 2015, www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2015/02/ftc-staff-warns-marketers-sellers-dog-waste-bags-their-biodegradable-compostable-claims-may-beopens in a new tab.
Gerkensmeyer, Rachael. “Is Dog Poop Bad for the Environment? Vet-Reviewed Nature Impact & Disposal – Dogster.” Dogster, 5 Sept. 2024, www.dogster.com/lifestyle/is-dog-poop-bad-for-the-environmenopens in a new tabt. Accessed 19 Feb. 2025.
“How to Safely Dispose of Pet Waste | Bothell WA.” Bothellwa.gov, 2025, www.bothellwa.gov/1824/Proper-pet-waste-disposalopens in a new tab. Accessed 19 Feb. 2025.
“Pets and Pet Waste.” County of San Diego, 2025, www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/dpw/watersheds/residential/PetWaste.html. Accessed 19 Feb. 2025.
“Roadside Guide to Clean Water: Proper Pet Waste Disposal.” Extension.psu.edu, extension.psu.edu/roadside-guide-to-clean-water-proper-pet-waste-disposalopens in a new tab.
“The Scoop on Poop: Pet Waste Issues | Environmental & Natural Resource Issues.” Water.ca.uky.edu, water.ca.uky.edu/content/scoop-poop-pet-waste-issuesopens in a new tab.
Siler, Wes. “Dog Poop Has Become a Major Pollutant.” Outside Online, 27 Mar. 2018, www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/environment/its-time-talk-about-dog-poop/opens in a new tab.
“Spotlight on… Dealing with Dog Waste,” Washington State University Extension. https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/2144/2015/03/Spotlight-on-Dog-Waste.pdfopens in a new tab.