Compost Your Pet Poop – Don’t Waste It
You may not realise that you can actually turn your pet waste into compost. There are many benefits to composting your pets waste, such as preventing it ending up in landfill, polluting water systems or simply being an eyesore to look at.
However, if you would like to compost your pets waste, you cannot simply add it to your regular compost pile that goes on your veggie garden.
You will need a separate compost bin due to the pathogens in the stool. It’s still a great option for getting rid of your pet waste and a great fertilizer for your non edible plants.
How To Compost Pet Poop
There are loads of options when it comes to composting your pet’s waste. The first thing to do is to choose a compost bin that will suit you. One option is you could purchase a specific pet composting system such as the ones found here. These usually allow for waste from dogs, cats and rabbits. Or if you only have dog poop to worry about, you can create your own compost system with either a bought compost bin or one you make yourself. Once you have decided on which bin will suit you, keep reading to learn more about setting up your compost bin.
Here are the steps to set up your own dog waste compost system.
Step 1: Choose A Location
You want to find a suitable location to put your compost bin. It is best to put your dog waste compost bin in a flat position to avoid run off (especially on to edible plants) and in an accessible location so it’s easy for you to add the dog poop.
Step 2: Start Adding Material To The Compost Bin
Every compost bin whether it is made with pet waste or veggie scraps needs to have a balance of carbon and nitrogen sources. Dog poop is considered a nitrogen source. You will need to start off your compost bin with a layer of carbon to cover the bottom then you can start adding your dog waste. Carbon sources included sawdust or shredded dry leaves or shredded newspaper. You will need to add approximately 1 shovel of carbon to cover two shovels of dog poop. If you don’t have huge amounts of poop to add at a time, you can also add grass clippings or other nitrogen materials to bulk up the volume. After adding the pet waste, then add your carbon materials and mix thoroughly.
Step 3: Turn Your Compost
Much like a regular compost bin, you will need to turn your compost. You should aim to turn your compost every week. It’s a good idea to use a compost thermometer to ensure the temperature of the compost pile reaches 150F to kill the pathogens and bacteria. Check for when the temperature drops and thoroughly turn the pile again to allow the temperature to come up again. You can tell the compost process is finished when the compost pile won’t heat up any more. This compost process should only take around four to six weeks. After which time, you should be left with a lovely rich soil that is moist, crumbly and pleasant smelling.
That’s it. Now you can move on to the next section on how to use your pet waste compost.
How To Use Compost Made From Pet Waste
Once you have your finished compost product, you are now ready to start using it on your garden. It’s recommended not to use it on your veggie garden or any other edible plants just in case some bacteria or pathogens survived the hot composting process. It’s also best to stay away from any gardens that children might be playing in. Instead, use the pet poop compost on an ornamental garden around your trees and shrubs. They will be sure to love it.
Conclusion
Overall, composting your dog’s waste is definitely the more eco friendly option than sending it to landfill or leaving it lying around. It doesn’t have to be difficult, if you find hot composting to be too much effort or you have a cat or rabbit too then consider trying a specific pet composting system.
