Paper or plastic for dog owners

Key Takeaways

• This question that you usually hear at the grocery store is also relevant for dog owners
• Today we’re going to look at a few various easy ways to use paper to pick up dog droppings that can help save money and the environment
• Using an envelope you are going to throw away anyway does not cost you money, it does not consume energy and it is better for the earth
• Picking up dog droppings twice a day would require 730 plastic bags per year
• If a dog lives for 13 years, this amounts to 10 thousand bags per dog

Why This Matters

Paper or plastic

• This question that you usually hear at the grocery store is also relevant for dog owners
• Today we’re going to look at a few various easy ways to use paper to pick up dog droppings that can help save money and the environment
• Using an envelope you are going to throw away anyway does not cost you money, it does not consume energy and it is better for the earth
• Picking up dog droppings twice a day would require 730 plastic bags per year

Picking Up Dog Droppings with Old Envelopes

One way to pick up dog droppings using paper is to use old envelopes. Use one hand to crimp the top of the envelope so the bottom opens. The second hand uses a stick to scoop the droppings into the envelope. If you don’t have a stick available, you could use a paper towel or tissue. If the droppings aren’t completely solid, use a paper towel or tissue to clean the remnants and put those in the envelope as well.

From there, carry the envelope to a trash can nearby. If you need to walk a longer distance, fold the envelope in half to carry it more securely.

Variations on the Envelope Method

There are several variations on this approach depending on your situation.

Larger dogs: Use a larger envelope.

One-handed technique: Press the envelope down completely and scoop up the droppings without a stick.

Newspaper ads: Take sheets from newspaper advertisements received in the mail — like the grocery store ads that arrive every week — and crumble them into balls to make the sheets softer and more pliable, more like a paper towel. Then use that paper to pick up and enclose the droppings.

It is still advised to carry a plastic bag or two to put the used paper balls in afterward, as insurance against leaks and mess. However, as long as there haven’t been any leaks, the bag can be emptied into a trash can and kept for the next day. This way you will drastically reduce your use of plastic bags to maybe one or two a week.

The Problem with Biodegradable Bags

Some people argue that they buy biodegradable bags, and while this is commendable, there are several problems with this argument.

First, biodegradable bags cost three to six cents per bag, and you might use up to two to three bags per day. Second, making new bags takes energy, which isn’t great for the environment or for climate change. Third, biodegradable plastic will generally only biodegrade if it’s composted — it does not necessarily biodegrade if it goes into a landfill.

Using an envelope you’re going to throw away anyway doesn’t cost you money, it doesn’t consume energy, and at the end of the day it is better for the earth.

The Numbers Add Up Over a Dog’s Lifetime

Picking up dog droppings twice a day using plastic bags would require about 730 bags per year. If a dog lives for 13 years or so, this amounts to nearly 10,000 plastic bags per dog.

If just 100 people switched to paper, together we can save almost a million bags.