Population & Poop
Let's do some math.
- There are approximately 90 million dogs in the United States.
- The average dog produces 3/4 pounds of poop a day.
- That's over 67 million pounds of poop a day!
To prevent contaminating our air and water, the Environmental Protection Agency recommends scooping the poop with a bag and discarding it in the trash.
There are several ways poop bags could be disposed, but the end of life cycle for most bags is a landfill.
What's in a Landfill?
Landfills are sophisticated waste management systems which are highly regulated. When trash arrives at a landfill, it's buried. On a daily basis, the surface is covered with at least 6" of compacted soil. This controls litter, minimizes odor and protects public health.
The result?
A poop bag's final stop is an anaerobic environment which means it lacks oxygen. It's a dark, dry place and the bags are buried forever.
The Dilemma
As a conscious consumer, you would like to reduce your dog's environmental paw print, but there are many choices. Plain plastic is not an option, so which bag is the best?
The questions are endless...
The answer is... it depends on the bag's "end of life cycle".
Let's look at the options...
Oxo-degradable
Made from plain plastic and an oxo-degradable additive, these bags are designed to degrade in an open-air environment.
The bags require oxygen to degrade, and a little heat and moisture accelerates the process. We've already learned these elements are not present in a landfill environment. Layers of dirt and debris cover the bags so they can not breathe.
Compostable
Made from vegetable starches such as corn, sugarcane and beetroot, these bags require commercial composting.
This seems like a nice alternative but commercial composting is an extensive process. high heat, aeration, nitrogen and water are used to break down the plastic. They literally need to be cooked to perfection.
This is not your typical backyard compost pile and most municipalities do not allow pet waste in their compost facilities.
Flushable
Made from synthetic polymers, these bags dissolve when immersed in water.
Although the EPA lists flushing pet waste as an option, they do not recommend flushing bags. The bags do not break down very fast and can cause strain on your pipes and municipal water treatment facilities.
Landfill Biodegradable
GreenLine Biodegradable Poop Bags are made from plastic and a proprietary additive which renders the bags biodegradable anywhere, regardless of environment.
This new technology utilizes the power of microbes and bacteria which are plentiful in landfill environments. They break down the barriers in plastic that prevent natural biodegradation to occur.
Hungry microorganisms looking for food to eat consume
the bag and produce natural, organic matter,
returning it to the earth.
Lab-Tested
Independent lab authentication proves the bags biodegrade 52.9% in 622 days using test method ASTM D5511.
Additional testing is in progress. Come back or sign up for our email list as we'll update our results on this page as we receive them.
The Breakdown
You’ve done the math and determined dogs poop a lot!
You’ve learned that not all poop bags are created equal
and...
You’ve discovered a poop bag that biodegrades anywhere.
Which bag will you choose?
