THE TAIL END | DOG POOP BAGS AND THE ENVIRONMENT
�Dog poop bags collected at a dog station in Irvine , California .
So researchers Lei Mai and Eddy Zeng from the Center for Environmental Microplastics Studies at Jinan University in Guangzhou , China , and Elaine Zeng from University High School in Irvine , California , collaborated for the general science survey study Dog poop bags : A non-negligible source of plastic pollution . The study was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and published in the January 2022 issue of Environmental Pollution .
As the abstract states : “ Plastic pollution derived from the disposal of plastic bags in the environment is clearly evidenced . However , little attention has been directed towards plastic waste derived from plastic dog poop bags ( DPBs ), which are widely used and can never be recycled . Combining the weight of each DPB , the number of bags daily used for a dog , and the number of pet dogs around the world , we estimated the number of annual consumed and disposed DPBs at more than 415 billion , or equivalently 0.76 – 1.23 million tons of plastics based on various weights of different DPBs . Although plastic waste produced by DPBs only accounts for a small fraction ( 0.6 %) of the total plastic waste generation , the extremely short life cycle of DPBs has made them a non-negligible source of plastic pollution in the environment .”
Dog poop bags : A non-negligible source of plastic pollution
It may not contribute to global warming as much as methane gas from cattle , but those ubiquitous doggie poop bags are doing their part in clogging the environment . Dog owners have the responsibility to collect dog poops , normally using dog poop bags ( DPBs ), and dispose them in trash bins . A study found ( yes , a company called Lintbells did a study in 2019 involving 2,000 British adults about their exercise habits with their dogs ) that a dog owner uses an average of 936 DPBs annually .
In my own experience with two Golden Retrievers who eat a higherend diet , Evie and Poppy average 2-3 poops a day each , so at the high number , that would be nearly 2,200 DPBs a year ( not including a higher count at Thanksgiving and Christmas ). I use both the basic blue ones and a brand that claims it is compostable and biodegradable . I will say , in my back yard , I can collect more than one poop per bag , while on a walk , it is a rare occasion when I get a DPD ( double poop deployment ) with both dogs circling for due north at the same time , allowing for a double scoop in a single bag .
Concerns have been raised about single-use plastic bags and how they are disposed , and there is nothing more single-use than DPBs . Most are made of polyethylene , which is not a biomaterial , although a few DPBs brands tout they meet the requirements for easy biodegradation or composability . DPBs are generally discarded in the trash and end up in landfills or incinerators . The study concentrated on the two most popular DPBs used in the United States , which were collected in various DPB stations in the City of Irvine , California , in January 2020 . The chemical composition of both DPBs was confirmed as polyethylene , one of the polymer types for plastic wastes in the environment .
Annual consumption of DPBs varies with different continents : North America , Africa , Europe , South America , and Oceania . In Asia , more than 163 billion DPBs ( equivalent to 0.28 – 0.45 million tons of plastics ) are consumed annually . The number of annual DPBs consumed in North America is approximately 82 billion ( 0.14 – 0.23 million tons ). The Oceania countries consume the least amount . The study concluded the usage of DPBs should also maintain an upward trend unless alternative materials are used to replace plastics for producing DPBs and / or the current consumption pattern is disrupted .
One such alternative is using paper bags , which degrade faster than plastic bags , but unless they have some waterproofing capabilities … eww . Paper DPBs also are more expensive , which may negate its environmental benefits to consumers . The study also suggests collecting more poops per bag ( PPB ), which might work for small dogs compared to the larger breeds . And rather than dump the , well , dumps in the trash , perhaps scatter the contents in the environment . I guess some of my neighbors are already ahead of the game based on the deposits left in front of my house . — The editor
64 Building Better Trainers Through Education Photo : Elaine Zeng