The Zero Garbage Challenge

PET PRODUCTS

Pet Waste 

I’ve spent a lot of time researching the best way to dispose of pet waste, and I have not come upon a definitive answer.  Leaving waste in the yard - or burying it - could lead to pollution of our groundwater and streams.  Waste that is put into a plastic bag and then shipped to a landfill never really biodegrades.  Pet waste composters - sort of like human composting toilets - seem like a good solution, but they are too expensive for me (plus, I’m a renter, not a homeowner).  So for now, I flush my pet waste down the toilet.  This is officially sanctioned by my local wastewater treatment center, as long as the cat litter is not clay (which can clog pipes).

Feline Pine clumping cat litter: nontoxic, easy to scoop, easy to find at most pet stores, does not make my house smell like cat litter, and it comes in a recyclable cardboard box. In case all of that is not enough, the company offers a first-time-buyer rebate and other “Pine Perks.” 

Flushdoggy biodegradable & flushable dog poo bags: these dissolve in water, so I just take home the poo bag and flush it.  The only problem is that the bags come in non-recyclable pouches.  I have contacted the owners about this, and they say that they are working toward recyclable packaging.

Pet Food Packaging

Pet food packaging has been tricky.  I buy dry dog and cat food, but I have not yet found a fully recyclable package.  My best choice so far is to buy Sammy Snacks (Charlottesville’s local pet food manufacturer).  I can usually get this in bulk, or in their recycled brown paper pet food bags.  The inner plastic lining is not recyclable, but everything else is.  Canned food is another option that I’ve dabbled with.