July 16, 2024
Biodegradable Dog Poop Bags: Not as Green as You Think
Compostable or biodegradable dog poop bags may be marketed as the perfect solution to scooping sustainably, but they can cause more harm than good in our environment. Despite their eco-friendly branding, these bags don’t break down in nature. We encourage our community members to scoop up their dog poop and carry it all the way to the trash can, rather than leaving the full bags on trails or in our parks.
Biodegradable and compostable plastics require special conditions to break down. Those conditions are not found in nature, so these bags become plastic pollution when tossed in the woods or forgotten along the trail. Plastic bags filled with dog poop create another hazard as well by keeping harmful bacteria and pathogens in the poop alive until the bag breaks open and releases them into the environment. This puts the health of other dogs, wildlife, and hikers at risk.
Forgotten and discarded poop bags are an issue for staff who maintain our parks and trails, too. “Our crews work hard to make sure our lands are not only well-maintained, but also ready for recreators to get out and enjoy them,” said Dan DeVoe, Baker District Maintenance Manager with the Department of Natural Resources. “As we’re out working on these trails, we’re seeing bags of dog poop everywhere – in our parking lots, on the sides of trails, and even in our bathrooms. Not only is this harmful to the incredible environment we all love and appreciate, but it also takes up crew time that could otherwise be used to keep up with general maintenance and support of our trails.”
“We encourage people to purchase whatever kind of poop bags they feel comfortable using. But for the safety and health of everyone, full dog poop bags need to get carried to the nearest trash can. Scoop it, bag it, and carry it all the way to the trash,” said Commissioner Peter Browning, Chair of the Skagit Board of County Commissioners.
Skagit County’s Pollution Identification and Correction (PIC) Program has been working since 2010 to reduce harmful fecal bacteria pollution in Skagit County’s surface waters. The pollution comes from failing septic systems, farms, dog poop, and illegal dumping. When pollution sources are found, the County works with community members to find a solution.
The problem of dog poop in yards and on trails has become more apparent in recent years as the PIC Program has worked to find sources of pollution. As a result, we have partnered with Whatcom County, the humane society, local veterinarians, and dog trainers to launch a campaign to encourage dog owners to scoop the poop on trails and in yards.
Find more information about the campaign at www.scoop-poop.org. For questions or more details, please contact Karen DuBose, Skagit County Pollution Identification & Correction Coordinator, at kdubose@co.skagit.wa.us and 360-416-1460.
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