Plastic bags are the worst!
We know they’re convenient, but they’re also dangerous to the environment. And since you’re here, I’m assuming you don’t want to be part of the problem anymore.
In A Hurry? Here Are Our Top Recommendations
PetBro Flush ‘n Gone Poop Bag
Ecostuff Dog Poop Bags
Doodie Flush Dog Poop Bag
I’ve got a dog and I love that little guy to pieces, but one of the constant challenges that I face is taking care of his business when I take him out for walks.
Thankfully, I have a pretty smart dog and he usually goes on grass during our outings. However, it does not always work out that way. Thus the discovery of flushable dog poop bags!
Despite good intentions, sometimes owners find their dog poop bags are anything but flushable. To add to that, have you had the same problem with other poop bags not breaking down like they say they would?
I know I have, which is why I looked for a better solution. What are the best options to keep your pipes unclogged and the environment safe and clean? Let’s find out in this post.
- Best Flushable Dog Poop Bags: Our Top 3 Picks At a Glance
- Can You Flush Poop Bags?
- What Types of Dog Poop Bags Can Be Flushed?
- 4 Best Dog Poop Bags That Can Be Flushed
- Dog Poop Disposal – Do’s and Don’ts
- No Party Poopers: Answering Your Frequently Asked Questions
- How Long Do Biodegradable Dog Poop Bags Take To Disintegrate?
- What Can I Use Instead of Plastic Bags To Pick Up Dog Poop?
- Is It Better for the Environment to Not Pick up Dog Poop?
- Conclusion
Best Flushable Dog Poop Bags: Our Top 3 Picks At a Glance
Last update on 2024-09-15 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Can You Flush Poop Bags?
Before we answer with yes or no, let’s see what flushable dog waste bags are.
Flushable dog waste bags are exactly what they sound like: bags that you can flush down the toilet to dispose of your dog’s waste.
They’re a convenient and environmentally-friendly alternative to traditional plastic trash bags, which can take up to 1,000 years to decompose—and have been known to cause problems in landfills.
Flushable dog poop bags are made from biodegradable materials, like paper or compostable plastic. They’re designed to dissolve completely when flushed down the toilet, so there’s no risk of clogging pipes or causing other plumbing issues.
So to answer the question on whether you can flush poop bags? It’s a YES!
What Types of Dog Poop Bags Can Be Flushed?
There are two main types of dog poop bags that can be flushed: plastic bags and biodegradable bags.
Plastic bags are the easiest to flush, because they’re designed to withstand the high-pressure water and heat of your toilet. These are typically less expensive than biodegradable bags. However, they have a higher carbon footprint, since they use more plastic than the biodegradable alternatives.
Biodegradable bags are made from materials like cornstarch or paper. They’re typically more expensive than plastic, but they break down in landfills faster and don’t release toxic chemicals into our environment when they do so.
Flushable dog poop bags are exactly what they sound like: bags specifically designed to go into the toilet without causing any problems or messes. The only problem is figuring out which ones are actually worth spending money on.
By the way, if you’re currently in a dilemma regarding which cute breed of dog to welcome into your home, and if potty training is one of your main concerns, I’ve made an exhaustive list of the easiest dogs to housebreak, and the toughest dogs to housebreak. Hope you find these helpful!
Now on to our evaluation of the best poop bags out there…
4 Best Dog Poop Bags That Can Be Flushed
The Sturdiest: PetBro Flush ‘n Gone Poop Bag
These bags are composed of plastic and PVA. They are sturdier compared to other flushable bags that are available in the market.
- Biodegradable Poop Bags: These bags are made from biodegradable plastic that breaks down naturally in the environment.
- Flushable Design: The bags are designed to be flushed down the toilet for easy disposal.
- Compostable Material: The bags are also compostable, so they can be added to your compost pile after use.
Last update on 2024-09-15 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Pros:
- Biodegradable: These bags are biodegradable, and will eventually disintegrate even without getting in contact with water or other septic solutions, leaving your toilet unclogged, and leaving you absolutely worry-free about potential tank issues.
- Mask Odors: This bag is also great in masking odors of pup wastes, even up to several hours.
Cons:
- Moist: The bags are sturdy but can feel a bit moist after picking up. I won’t recommend this if you don’t have anything else to place the bags in when you are going for longer walks with your dog, you might feel uncomfortable.
The Best Scented: Ecostuff Dog Poop Bags
The PVA used to make Ecostuff Poop Bags is fully biodegradable and harmless to the environment and the septic system.
- Flushable and Water-soluble Poop Bags : Do not carry poop bags for ages during taking a walk. Find the bathroom and just put...
- Hygienic Poop Waste Bags : There is no chance to make your place to be unsanitary and smelly house with polluted poop bags....
- Sustainable Life with Nature : SGS water-soluble biodegradable certified with greater than 70% of biodegradable test. Think...
Last update on 2024-09-15 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The bags are made from recycled materials, and the roll cores are made from non-polyethylene plastic. You won’t feel embarrassed by the dog poop scents when out on a stroll with your dog, with this lavender-scented poop bag!
Pros:
- Highly Soluble: This is a biodegradable dog poop bag that is highly soluble. These bags are around 2.5 times thicker than standard poop bags, making them more durable and great at concealing waste from view.
- Durable: The split-resistant technology also makes the bags stronger and less degraded, so you can carry the bags with you for more than 1 hour.
Cons:
- Scented: If you prefer unscented bags, then this might not be the choice for you.
- Sizing: In terms of size and capacity, you might also need to explore another brand in case you need extra-large dog poop bags.
The Biggest Capacity: Doodie Flush Dog Poop Bag
And by greenest, I do not just mean color! Doodie Flush Dog Poop Bag is one of the biggest and most biodegradable bags that are being sold today.
- 🚮 THE GREENEST 100% FLUSHABLE DOG DOO-DOO DISPOSAL – Looking for the best alternative to plastic doggie poop bags? POOP...
- 🧤 GENEROUS SIZE & SO EASY TO GRAB – Tired of poor quality pet poop bags that can’t even accommodate a substantial...
- 🐶 MUCH THICKER & STRONGER THAN NORMAL DOGS POOP BAGS - Forget cheap, flimsy bags or doubling up to avoid messy accidents....
Last update on 2024-09-15 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
If you’re concerned about the effects of disposable plastic and dog poop on the environment, this bag is for you. For strolls through the park or picking up trash in the yard.
These bags are top-notch; you need not worry about any leaks or tears. The waste from your dog’s “business” can be disposed of in either of three ways: flushed, thrown away, or composted.
Pros:
- Durable: Get these if you’re sick of using pet poop bags that are too flimsy to hold even a moderate amount of waste.
- Sizing: The dimensions of this bag (10.5 inches by 7.5 inches) ensure that you won’t be in contact with the wastes of your fur baby. These bags are up to the “dirtiest” task time and time again, for dogs of all sizes.
- Don’t bother with double bags or with the inexpensive, fragile ones if you care about your belongings.
- Thickness: They’re also thick enough that you could forget you’re picking them up, with the highest possible level of stealth and durability.
- Waterproof: These bags are completely waterproof and intelligently designed to disintegrate only when exposed to water.
Cons:
- Size: Since these are quite big, you might it a bit of a waste (no pun intended) if you have a relatively small canine.
The Fit-For-All: Green Sheep Flushable Dog Poop Bags
These bags are huge, with dimensions of 9″ x 12.5″ doggie bags. While the bags are unscented, this does not keep the bags from efficiently confining any unwanted odors.
![Green Sheep, Flushable Dog Poop Bags Certified, 100 Biodegradable & Recycled, Go-Green Pet Waste Bags [40 Bags ; 35 Micron], Pink, GX-BS155](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41nBq3Mp3SL._SL160_.jpg)
- Flushable Dog Poop Bags
- 100% Eco-Friendly Biodegradable & Recycled Poop Bags
Last update on 2024-09-15 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Pros:
- Tear-resistant and Leak-proof: Which can be used with any size of dog, including very large dogs. These dog bags are manufacture with eco-friendly materials.
- Recycled Materials: The cores are made from recycled materials, as well as the boxes that they come in.
- Sizing: These poop bags fit standard dispensers that are ethically and sustainably made for stress-free walks to the park. Each roll is also small enough to fit in most pockets.
Cons:
- Long Time To Disintegrate: Since the materials used are extremely sturdy, it takes a lot of time for the bags to disintegrate, which could potentially cause clogging issues in your drainage system.
Dog Poop Disposal – Do’s and Don’ts
1. Do Not Dispose of Poop Bags in Regular Trash
They will end up in a landfill, where they will eventually decompose and release methane gas into the atmosphere. This is bad for the environment, and it’s not good for us humans either—methane is an odorless gas that is harmful to breathe.
2. Do Not Compost Them in Your Home Garden
Animal waste contains pathogens that can be harmful to humans. Dog poop contains bacteria that can contaminate water sources and soil.
When those bacteria are disposed of improperly (which they often are), they can enter our food chain through animals who come into contact with contaminated soil or water. This can lead to health problems for humans and other animals alike.
3. Do Not Place Them in Public Yard Waste Bins
Whether you’re a dog owner or not, you’re probably aware that pet waste is a problem. Unfortunately, many municipalities don’t have the resources to deal with it, so they simply put it in their public yard waste bins.
Those bins are then sent to municipal composting facilities where the pet waste contaminates other organic material.
Most municipal composting facilities do not accept pet waste because of its high contamination rate, so if you live in an area where pet waste is allowed in public yard waste bins, please make sure you don’t put your dog’s poop in them.
4. Flush It
Three reasons why flushing your dog’s poop bags is one of the best options: First, flushable bags are biodegradable, so they break down and don’t leave behind harmful chemicals in the water supply.
Second, flushable bags are more environmentally friendly, which makes them a better choice for the future of our planet. And lastly, using flushable bags helps keep our oceans clean by keeping plastic out of the ocean.
5. Bury It
For this part, I have a lot of good points to share with you, and maybe why this is another best option together with flushing:
- It will help keep the soil healthy, which is good for all plants, including your plants at home.
- It will prevent run-off from entering nearby water sources like rivers or streams, which could contaminate them with bacteria from the feces.
- It will reduce animal waste in landfills by keeping it out of landfills and instead using it as compost for gardens or lawns! (It’s like recycling!)
- It will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions caused by decomposing waste in landfills! (This is called “carbon sequestration.”)
- It can even improve air quality by absorbing harmful gases like methane so they don’t contribute to global warming! (Again: “carbon sequestration”)
6. Do Use a Composting Bin for Only Dog Waste
You can compost dog waste using a bin, but I recommend that you use it only for dog waste.
For one thing, there are regulations that require dog waste to be treated differently than other types of waste.
For example, you may be able to get away with putting your compost bin right on your property, but if it’s in an area where there are no regulations (or ones that aren’t enforced), then you could end up with a stench or worse.
Dogs eat meat and bones, which means their waste contains more nitrogen than other types of animal waste.
Nitrogen is great for composting—it speeds up the process—but it also attracts flies and other pests that could get into your compost pile and do damage.
If you want to compost dog waste but don’t want to put yourself at risk by having it within reach of other animals, consider taking it somewhere else to dispose of it safely.
7. Take It to a Commercial Composting Facility That Accepts Animal Waste
This is one of the easiest ways to make sure that you’re doing your part to reduce waste and help the environment.
Composting dog poop reduces the need for landfills, which can be dangerous for our planet and its inhabitants.
The fertilizer from composted dog poop is turned by these facilities into useful soil, which are then distributed to areas where they are needed, such as helping farmers grow more food, or soils for use in parks or schools
By composting your dog’s waste, you’re making sure there are no harmful chemicals in it that could make their way into the groundwater or soil.
No Party Poopers: Answering Your Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Do Biodegradable Dog Poop Bags Take To Disintegrate?
Manufacturers of non-plastic dog poop bags or paper poop bags claim that their products are biodegradable. But how long do these bags actually take to disintegrate?
The answer depends on the type of bag you buy. Non-plastic dog poop bags made from paper will break down in about six months in a landfill, and those made from plant-based plastics will break down even faster.
But if you’re looking for a truly biodegradable bag, you should look for those labeled “environmentally friendly” or “biodegradable.”
These bags are made from eco-friendly and recycled materials, but they are also certified by an independent third party to ensure that they do actually break down within a reasonable amount of time.
In case you’re wondering where to buy dog poop bags, they are mostly available in pet shops and are all over online stores as well.
What Can I Use Instead of Plastic Bags To Pick Up Dog Poop?
Plastic bags are a scourge on the environment. They’re hard to recycle, and they don’t break down in landfills. If you’re thinking of ditching plastic bags for dog poop, here are some options:
- Use a compostable bag
- Use a paper bag
- Use a cloth bag or old towel
- Buy flushable poop bags at the pet store or online (this is what I recommend)
I also recommend to use a dog poop bag dispenser instead of plastic bags to pick up dog poop.
These dispensers are made from recycled materials and are designed to hold your biodegradable pooper scooper bags while you’re out walking your dog.
They attach to your leash so that they’re always within reach, which means you’ll never have to carry around a bunch of plastic bags again!
Is It Better for the Environment to Not Pick up Dog Poop?
NO! Dog waste can contain harmful bacteria and parasites that can make you and your family sick. Not only does picking up your dog’s poop help keep everyone healthy, but it also helps keep our water supply clean.
Dog waste contains harmful bacteria and parasites like E. coli and giardia, which can cause diarrhea and other gastrointestinal problems in people who come into contact with it.
That’s why pet owners should always pick up their dogs’ waste when they’re out for walks or playing in the yard—just like any responsible person would do with their own waste!
Conclusion
To sum it up, these bags aren’t just handy and responsible, they’re all natural too. Each manufacturer’s poop bags vary by design, and while they all claim to be flushable, some are better at it than others.
These bags make it possible to manage waste in a safe and environmentally conscious way.
In the end, what truly makes a dog poop bag “flushable”? While it’s ultimately up to each user to decide, each of the above options should be a good choice for most dog owners looking for flushable dog poop bags.
Concerned with dog poop odors outside your home? Here is a post I wrote on how to get rid of dog poop smell outside. Keep checking in for more articles on how to be the best fur parent, and an environmental advocate at that, too!
