Returning contents back to nature

If our community waste management systems offered commercial composting services for dog waste, using compostable pick-up bags formulated to meet ASTM D6400 standards would make sense. But chances are very good that your commercial recycling programs do not accept pet waste. As a responsible person, you simply add your household pet waste to public trash cans or your residential trash and the waste is streamed into landfills.

So what is the point of compostable bags? Unless the pet waste and bag are returned to nature in some systematic way, compostable bags have no function. In a sealed landfill, organics do not degrade as they would if exposed to air, light, heat, moisture and hungry microorganisms. They simply emit methane as they mummify.

Bags identified as "biodegradable" or "oxobiodegradable" without a "compostable" designation are made of plastic film with an added degradant that helps them break apart if exposed to the elements. As with compostable bags, the organic components of these bags do not decompose when hermetically sealed in a landfill.

All greened up with no place to go

Since dog waste in compostable or otherwise advertised biodegradable bags is tossed in the trash, why not just recycle that old newspaper or shopping bag for pick up? Really. Unless compostable bags are used as part of a high-heat composting process, they actually have drawbacks. Here are three of them.

1) Do it yourself composting: Promotions lead buyers to believe that compostable or other biodegradable bags can be used with various doggie septic systems or for backyard composting. But the bags take a long time to degrade and may disrupt the system. They simply do not expose contents to the elements in a timely way.

2) Price: Certified compostable bags cost twice as much as bags made primarily of plastic. Manufacturers of compostable bags do not foresee lower prices until demand rises exponentially due to bans on plastic bags and an increase in commercial composting.

3) Magical thinking: Bags labeled "compostable" or otherwise "degradable" may even impede efforts to keep parks and waterways free of dog waste pollution. Some pet owners leave "bio" bags on the ground or cover them with dirt in hopes that they will quickly degrade. One dog owner said (true story), "These bags are great! I leave them in the field and when I come back they're gone." Nature does not embrace the bags. Someone picks them up or they simply blow away.

So what's the answer?

Considering that the dog waste you responsibly trash is headed for a landfill, smart environmental choices would be re-using plastic bags or choosing recycled plastic pick-up bags made in the U.S. Both of these options eliminate the need to produce new plastic film and transport products long distances.

For much more highly credible information on the current state of dog waste bag technology, visit the the Bio-Buddy website. Envirowagg distributes Bio-Buddy bags to its green partners and others who want to order U.S. recycled plastic dog bags and compostable dog bags in bulk quantities at low rates. These bags can be custom printed for parks, company branding and fundraisers. Proceeds from Bio-Buddy bags purchased through EnviroWagg benefit pet waste composting in the Denver Metro area.

Recycled bag prices (200-roll bags fit conventional roll bag park dispensers):

Optional custom printing: First-time orders require a one-time $190 full-bag design and print cylinder set-up fee. The design can be used again for future orders at no charge.

Production: Three week delivery for unprinted bags; 4-5 weeks for custom printed bags.

Shipping: Bag prices above do not include shipping F.O.B. Burlington, Washington. (Approx. $12 per case of bags to U.S. location; shipping cost decreases with quantity).

Payment: If ordering new custom bags, payment of the one-time $190 set-up fee is required to start the process. Bags and shipping will be invoiced 30 days net.

Questions? Interested in bulk orders of compostable bags? Contact EnviroWagg directly at (303) 617-7049 or envirowagg@comcast.net.