[USCC] Dog and Cat Waste Composting

[Chaney, Rufus]

Dear Bill:

I don't know who told you it is not acceptable to use composted pet
waste as a garden fertilizer. The key is that you would need to show
that your composting met the pathogen reduction requirements for
biosolids or organic farming. Composting is an excellent method to
reduce pathogens. Many 10's of reductions are achieved if temperature
and turning requirements are maintained and the product cured. For small
operations such as you are considering, the key problems are collection
and starting compost units with such small daily increments. But it can
be done and record keeping can show whether you achieved the
temperatures needed for required pathogen reduction. Certainly untreated
pet wastes are a source of pathogen exposures and require some safe
treatment or disposal. I don't know if you can build a business with
this because collection and treatment of pet wastes by composting is
more bother for the pet owner than placing the wastes in their landfill
collected wastes. Hope you can make it work.

Regards,

Rufus Chaney,
Beltsville, MD

-----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 6:58 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
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