Topic: Think before you flush (Read 4645 times)

Bow1508 · « **Reply #27 on:** April 08, 2008, 21:13:26 PM »

Has anyone found bio degradable bags? I must confess to skimming as i'm supposed to be coming offline

would be a great idea for the dog too. Had those dog loo's before and i must have dumped a ton of water from the hose down it and it NEVER drained away and we did it all properly. Decent soil decent area rocks in the ground for drainage. oaky we had a german shepherd but we did buy the biggest one we could find. Also had to dump chemicals down it. I worry that we can't ever win! I've been putting mine cats waste in a carrier bag in the bin. I figured recycling old carriers is better than nothing but now i feel guilty

Catjane · « **Reply #26 on:** April 07, 2008, 18:29:28 PM »

We have fortnightly non-recyclable collections, but our council have had the foresight to provide us with kitchen caddies to put all the 'wet' waste in. No smells. Except for the lazy b*st*rds who just chuck everything in the bin. Cat litter I tie up tight in carrier bags, and that has worked well. Unfortunately, with the likely change in carrier bag policy I might have to rethink my strategy. Recyclable/biodegradable tie-up bags would do the trick.

Den · « **Reply #25 on:** April 07, 2008, 17:23:14 PM »

Ewww, so glad I don't live in Portsmouth anymore.

koscha (Ruth M) · « **Reply #24 on:** April 07, 2008, 17:20:24 PM »

Can wood and paper based cat litter be composted in the standard way?

Obviously the faeces would have to be removed (thanks for the nappy sack idea-i'll be using that one!

), but i've seen in one of my gardening magazines (an article by Bob Flowerdew) that urine can actually help a struggling compost heap!

I might give it a go anyway and let you know the results, seems to be a better idea than yet more stuff in the black bin bags... Especially as Portsmouth Council are getting a bit more stringent (though we're still on once a week collections-I've seen the results of the 2 weekly collections in Gosport-maggot overun!!!

)

Millys Mum · « **Reply #23 on:** April 07, 2008, 16:33:00 PM »

Iv heard of this before, probably on an american site. I also read that people on the pill have contaminated wee which affects marine life and their reproduction habits, so im going to start peeing in the garden

Maybe il get giant mutated dandelions

Im going to start using biodegradable poop bags for the cat litter

SpecialRed · « **Reply #22 on:** April 05, 2008, 18:56:46 PM »

this thread stinks! lol

I dont have that problem as my cat does it outside!

Im getting annoyed at the council they have just changed our bags to see thru Green ones and basically they get to choose if they collect them or not, if they perceive it to be full of recycleable rubbish they can leave the bags!!! The bags they provided come in a roll of 60 and when there gone there gone(they will not pick up ANY black bin bags), the extra 8 bags are meant to cover christmas etc. Well there is only two of us in our house and we easily fill two bags a week, not including bottle/cans and paper, god help those with kids.

When they dropped of the new bags I quickly snatched two extra rolls from two empty houses down the road, I know I shouldnt but at least my rubbish wont get left!

Since the introduction they have left a number of bin bags rather than collecting them and I have so far had a used Nappy, sanitary towel and a condom outside my house, so never mind the Dolphins lol!

Den · « **Reply #21 on:** April 05, 2008, 18:24:56 PM »

I use quite a lot of these .. which are really big bags.

http://www.bagsonboard.com/ (you can get them on ebay)

I cant find the link for the other ones (black ones) i'll have a look later.

Desley (booktigger) · « **Reply #20 on:** April 05, 2008, 10:25:24 AM »

I use nappy sacks from Asda, although occasionally flush the woodbased from the bathroom litter tray, but shall stop that now. i might go on the hunt for biodegradable bags, as I do get through quite a lot.

swampmaxmum · « **Reply #19 on:** April 05, 2008, 10:22:41 AM »

where's the best place to get those please? I've never looked, so excuse me if they are all over Sainsbury's and I'm

as usual. Are they strong enough to hold used litter?

Den · « **Reply #18 on:** April 04, 2008, 18:49:19 PM »

Dog loos are totally useless.

I use biodegradable dog poo bags and they are either scented or unscented. Then it goes in the wheelie bin. I always have loads around because of Molly.

Susanne (urbantigers) · « **Reply #17 on:** April 04, 2008, 18:14:18 PM »

Quote from: Bazsmum on April 04, 2008, 14:44:49 PM

I actually use the doggie bags (not for afterwards!) they are scented...they cost about 75p for 150....use them for the dogs walkies also you see!

They're 74p actually - I know because I bought some the other day

It's a tricky one, isn't it. I use the nappy sacks too and put them out in the dustbin. I don't have much problem with smells as long as I dont' let the pile of bags build up too much in the bathroom!

I'm paranoid about flushing stuff down the loo as I'm in a ground floor flat and have had lots of problems when the drains have been blocked due to someone in another flat flushing stuff they shouldn't. And when that happens it all backs up in my loo and shower

swampmaxmum · « **Reply #16 on:** April 04, 2008, 17:40:24 PM »

our Council's just put up our council tax and cut our 'black bin waste' (non recyclable) to every 2 weeks. I moaned & told them it's not just plastic, it's kitty nasties & a health hazard, but they are unimpressed. However.....they do a weekly nappy run for people with babies. Do you think I could disguise the litter bag in a nappy bag (how transparent are they, cos they aren't going to open it!!

). Alternatively where do I get those dog poo sacks as I may sneak off to the local dog poo bin with them of a quiet night (shhhh). If dogs can have a bin, why not cats?
I'd thought of mailing some special delivery to the council's new privatised waste dept, but thought perhaps that may be illegal????

It's not fun when you live in a flat and share bins with 9 other flats!

Gillian Harvey · « **Reply #15 on:** April 04, 2008, 17:15:16 PM »

Hmmm.... just got a reply back from Armitage who make the dog loo, this is the very short and to the point answere!

'No I'm sorry the Dog Loo is not suitable for cat waste.'

To be honest disposing of cat litter is not something I've thought about much before, just bagged it and binned it - but I guess these days I suppose we should think more about it.

Dark Moon · « **Reply #14 on:** April 04, 2008, 15:30:41 PM »

Obviously I haven't the faintest clue........ not being in a city and not being UK ........

Clay soil drains poorly. It'd stick around for a time. But be degrading all the while.

Poo is poo. If it works for dogs, it'd work for cat. Yes, yes, yes I know - they are different, as are their diets. But, were I you, I'd try it.

Keep in mind, we are all obsessing about cat poo when we flush billions of tons of our own down........

Still, every little bit counts. I won't compost my own, but neither will I fuss excessively about theirs. The cat feces will degrade easily. Along with the dog and the horse and the cow and the goat and the fox and the birds and the moose and the bear and the everything else's poo........

I worry more about the litter. So much volume. It also degrades, if handled correctly (i.e. not put into plastic and sent off to the dump).

I know they say not to put animal waste into compost heaps. And I know I am lucky in living where I do (places to put such not being a problem). But, yes, go with the doggie poo composter. Try it anyway.

Gillian Harvey · « **Reply #13 on:** April 04, 2008, 15:09:03 PM »

Well I just looked at the Dog loo, don't know if it would work for cat poo, it doesnt say so from what I can read. The few reviews arent all that positive - and looks like it wouldnt be any good in my garden as it says it can't be used in clay soil.

http://www.petplanet.co.uk/product.asp?dept_id=132&pf_id=0552

Bazsmum · « **Reply #12 on:** April 04, 2008, 14:44:49 PM »

I actually use the doggie bags (not for afterwards!) they are scented...they cost about 75p for 150....use them for the dogs walkies also you see!

Gillian Harvey · « **Reply #11 on:** April 04, 2008, 14:36:48 PM »

Quote from: Kittybabe (Ruth) on April 04, 2008, 14:31:55 PM

The lockers I bought at Mothercare. They're cheaper to run that the cat litter locker. I bought the locker for £15 and three refills cost the same... a cat litter locker each refil costs £10 and the bags don't last as long. I just empty it out when the locker is full, generally once a week and one refill lasts me about a month or more.

Ah, I see, thanks. I must have a browse round Mothercare (it'll be a first for me LOL!!!) I already use nappy sacks - the Sainsbury's ones (they're scented!) - but not biodegradeable unfortunately

Kittybabe (Ruth) · « **Reply #10 on:** April 04, 2008, 14:31:55 PM »

Quote from: Gillian (Ambercat) on April 04, 2008, 14:23:36 PM

Quote from: Kittybabe (Ruth) on April 04, 2008, 13:41:07 PM
Nappy sacks Dawn. I use nappy sacks and a proper nappy locker (rather than the cat litter locker)... no smells.

What are those like then Ruth? I've seen the cat litter locker, but never a nappy locker - I'm intrigued

Get nappy sacks from the baby aisle at supermarket. I got 300 sacks (really thin plastic bags though I would prefer biodegradable ones) for 75p from Asda.

The lockers I bought at Mothercare. They're cheaper to run that the cat litter locker. I bought the locker for £15 and three refills cost the same... a cat litter locker each refil costs £10 and the bags don't last as long. I just empty it out when the locker is full, generally once a week and one refill lasts me about a month or more.

Dark Moon · « **Reply #9 on:** April 04, 2008, 14:25:53 PM »

Everything eventually degrades and sinks into the water table. But that's the natural way of things. They will have degraded or at least begun the process by then. MUCH more environmentally friendly.

Gillian Harvey · « **Reply #8 on:** April 04, 2008, 14:23:36 PM »

Quote from: Kittybabe (Ruth) on April 04, 2008, 13:41:07 PM

Nappy sacks Dawn. I use nappy sacks and a proper nappy locker (rather than the cat litter locker)... no smells.

What are those like then Ruth? I've seen the cat litter locker, but never a nappy locker - I'm intrigued

It seems that we can't win really, if we flush its not environmentally friendly, BUT, all those plastic bags of cat litter festering in landfill aint exactly environmentally friendly either - so whats the answer?

What about those things you can sink into the ground to put waste in (think I've seen them advertised for dog waste - could they be used for cat waste too?) - although I supposed that eventually seeps into the water courses too doesnt it?

clarenmax · « **Reply #7 on:** April 04, 2008, 13:45:07 PM »

Quote from: Dawn F on April 04, 2008, 13:39:21 PM

mmmm bit disappointing - my wheelie bin is only emptied every other week and in the summer gets very niffy

Same here, that's why I switched to chick crumb and flushing. I gets very niffy indeed in the height of Summer

I also used to worry with the nappy sacks in normal rubbish, they're not biodegradable at all.

Dawn F · « **Reply #6 on:** April 04, 2008, 13:43:30 PM »

really? I think I've got one of those in the loft!

Kittybabe (Ruth) · « **Reply #5 on:** April 04, 2008, 13:41:07 PM »

Nappy sacks Dawn. I use nappy sacks and a proper nappy locker (rather than the cat litter locker)... no smells.

Dawn F · « **Reply #4 on:** April 04, 2008, 13:39:21 PM »

mmmm bit disappointing - my wheelie bin is only emptied every other week and in the summer gets very niffy

Dark Moon · « **Reply #3 on:** April 04, 2008, 13:33:17 PM »

I'm not sure about all of that - but I stopped 'flushing' (for them) a while back. Seemed wrong to dump all that stuff down. Not just the feces but the litter too. Now I have a "kitty crap bucket" I wander from box to box with in the mornings. The ultimate contents then get taken outside. I know this isn't an option for town-based people, but I am rural and all of that is organic and so...........

Bryony84 · « **Reply #2 on:** April 04, 2008, 10:28:46 AM »

I never realised there was anything like that. We've always flushed ours for all the cats we've had as we use the wood based litter, just been careful not to put too much down and block it. Never thought that it could affect marine life!

Teresa Pawcats · « **Reply #1 on:** April 04, 2008, 09:49:45 AM »

Taken from a thread on Catchat
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2007/aug/30/3?gusrc=rss&feed=environment

Author Topic: Think before you flush (Read 4645 times)

Dark Moon

Dark Moon

Dark Moon