NY Dog Poop Gets Special Treatment

Billions of pounds of pet waste are sent to the landfill every year, but one community hopes to change that statistic by composting their dog doo. Members of the Tompkins County Dog Owners Group in Ithaca, New York, started a pilot program with Cayuga Compost to put that poop to use. According to Green Inc., Dog owners who visit Ithaca Dog Park collect the leavings in corn-based bags, then place the waste in special bins near the park's entrances. Cayuga Compost carts off about 1,000 pounds of poop for composting each month, reports the Associated Press. Pet waste is unsuitable for vegetable gardens and contains pathogens that can pollute water sources. The future uses of Ithaca's dog-generated compost may include landscaping projects or applications with potted plants. Cayuga plans to test the composition of the dog waste to determine the next step.

--Della Watson