[USCC] Dog and Cat Waste Composting

[Karin Grobe]

Composting pet waste is a tricky business.  It seems that in ideal
composting conditions, you should be able to kill the pathogens, but who has
ideal conditions?  If you try it, stay away from biodegradable bags as that
would only make the composting process trickier, with bits of poo getting in
the corners of the bags and potentially not heating up.  

Here's my 2 cents worth from Santa Cruz County Master Composters notebook.  
Managing Cat, Dog and Bird Wastes
Cat and dog feces can be buried in ornamental areas of the garden. Pet
wastes should not be composted with food or yard wastes or flushed down the
toilet.  Bury these wastes as you would food scraps, in ornamental garden
areas only, where they are unlikely to be disturbed for at least two years.
Handle them as little as possible.
	Do not bury pet wastes within 100 feet of a domestic water well,
lake or stream. A pit
2 to 3 ft. deep, covered securely with a heavy board, can serve as a burial
area for one or two pets over an extended period of time. Throw a little
soil, sawdust, peat moss or compost on top of each deposit. When the hole is
filled to within 1 ft. of the surface, fill it with soil and start a new
pit.  

Why we don't recommend composting or flushing
Bacterial species found in dog and cat manure which can affect the human
system are salmonella, campylobacter, and e-coli.  Protozoal parasites are
giardia, coccidia (can also be found in bird manure) and toxoplasma.  Also
of great concern are parasitic worms. Those species which are of particular
concern are roundworms, tapeworms and hookworms. Hookworms, found primarily
in dogs, are of particular concern, especially in warmer climates, as they
can infect humans by being ingested and/or by burrowing through the skin.
Many of the harmful organisms can be found in apparently healthy animals.
While hot compost temperatures CAN destroy all of these potential problems
and thorough hand washing does eliminate most means of infestation, keep in
mind that composting pet manures concentrates these harmful organisms in the
pile. Because we can't guarantee that ALL of the material in the home
compost pile is exposed to sufficient temperatures for sufficient time to
reliably destroy the harmful organisms the recommendation is generally to
avoid the source of possible contamination; pet manure.  In typical backyard
'cool' piles, organisms of concern have been shown to survive over 18
months.
Cat litter should not be flushed down the toilet, even if it is advertised
as 'flushable'.  Bacterial species present in cat feces has been implicated
in sea otter deaths and may be toxic to other marine species.  Waste water
treatment plants treat sewage to kill harmful bacteria, remove the waste
solids, and pump the resultant "safe" effluent directly into a freshwater
source that eventually drains into ocean bays.  Unfortunately present means
of sewage treatment do not kill the T. Gondii parasite. Cat owners using
flushable litters may be unwittingly contributing to the ultimate deaths of
sea otters.
Scientists and researchers have recently discovered a correlation between
Toxoplasma gondii and the decrease in the sea otter population off the
California Coast. Since cats are the only creatures that shed the T. gondii
parasite, through their feces, there seems to be a direct link. Researchers
from UC Davis, in a study of otters who habitated areas near freshwater
runoff, found that 42% of live otters and 62% of dead otters tested positive
for T gondii.  Sea otters are regarded as being "an almost ideal sentinel
species," much like the old canaries in mines, in that they telegraph things
that might be going on in the larger marine environment, according to David
A. Jessup, senior wildlife veterinarian for the California Department of
Fish and Game. 
In addition, injured sea otters offer an easy and attractive meal for
sharks, which could (it is presumed) also become infected with the parasite.


-----Original Message-----
From: compost-bounces at mailman.cloudnet.com
[mailto:compost-bounces at mailman.cloudnet.com] On Behalf Of Ray Hays
Sent: Tuesday, July 24, 2007 3:58 AM
To: compost at mailman.cloudnet.com
Subject: [USCC] Dog and Cat Waste Composting

My company will launch a pet waste disposal company. Our main focus will be
on dog waste cleanup ("poop scooping"). I am disappointed that this pet
waste usually ends up in landfills.
   
  We are seeking a commercially viable solution to "recycling" dog waste
through composting and selling it to landscaping companies. My research
indicates that dog waste cannot be used for compost that is used on food
crops or vegetable gardens, but I am hoping to use it for non-food plants.
Our collection might be in the range of 25-50 gallons of doggy doo a day.
   
  Can anyone provide insight or research on composting pet waste?
   
  Thanks in advance.
  Ray Hays
   
  rayhays at envoyinvestments.com
Join us at the US Composting Council's 16th Annual Conference & Trade Show
Oakland Marriott City Center, Oakland, CA | February 9-12, 2008.
The National forum for those involved in the development and expansion of
the composting and organics recycling industry.
Conference Highlights, Registration forms, Exhibitor information and
Sponsorship Opportunities available at the USCC website:
www.compostingcouncil.org or call the USCC at 631.737.4931 
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