Pet waste
Owning a pet also means managing the waste they produce responsibly. Pet waste, whether from dogs, cats or small animals, can harm the environment and public health if not disposed of correctly. By using the right bins and products, you can keep your home, neighbourhood and green spaces clean while reducing unnecessary waste.
How to minimise pet waste
Buying loose pet products - lots of pet shops sell treats and dried food loose. You can take your own containers and fill up without the single use packaging. Here are some in Derby:
- Trusty Pet Supply Superstore, Kingsway Retail Park, Derby, DE22 3FP
- Pets and Friends, Littleover, Derby, DE23 6BR
- Supapet, Osmaston Road, Derby, DE24 9BR
Avoid the single use packaging, opting for recyclable options, for example paper bags or tins. Buying in bulk also helps to reduce the amount of packaging that needs to be disposed of and most pet shops in Derby will take any clean packaging back.
Pet accessories and toys
You can find second-hand items for your pets including pet beds, cages, bowls in charity shops, car boot sales and online selling sites like Gumtree, Freegle, Freecycle and Facebook Marketplace.
If you are buying new accessories for your pet, think about the materials they are made of. For example, if you purchase stainless steel food and water bowls, these will last and can also be recycled at the end of their life. The Pet Superstore on Dunstall Park Road sells toys and accessories without any packaging.
Pet hygiene
Bars of soap and shampoo bars for pets and now widely available and are a great alternative to plastic packaged shampoo.
More information
Options for disposing of pet waste depends on the animals you have.
Dog and cat poo can be composted for use on non-edible plants. You can find information online about how to do this safely. This waste can also be composted in a Green Cone Food Waste Digester, along with your other food waste. If you are unable to home compost this waste, please bag it and put it into your black bin.
If you have smaller pets like hamsters, guinea pigs and rabbits that have a vegetarian diet, you can compost this waste or put it into your brown bin.
If you have a cat, there are changes you can make with cat litter to minimise the impact on the environment. The Clean Litter Club has some great tips for you.
Biodegradable cat litter can also be composted, however it’s important that it is done safely and responsibly to avoid potential health risks and environmental damage. Extra precautions, such as wearing gloves and a mask should be taken when composting. It should be composted in a separate heap or container, and not in direct contact with the floor. The compost heap should be covered with a tarp to prevent any seeds from germinating and the compost produced should not be used for edible crops. Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by a parasite found in cat faeces, and although the risk of toxoplasmosis is low in the UK, it is still important to follow proper composting guidelines to protect your health and the environment. See Can You Compost Cat Litter? Is it Safe? And How to Do it for more information.