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Pet poo - to compost or not to compost

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Photo source: Facebook
So we all know it's important to bin pet poo. The reasons include:
  • Pet poo pollutes storm water, creeks and the bay (high nitrogen = algal blooms)
  • Pet poo contains pathogens that can harm us
  • Pet poo - oh how we feel when we step in it!!
  • Oh, and it's the law!

A few things to keep in mind however:
  • Cat poo can contain toxoplasmosis which can cause birth defects - try to keep it out of the environment
  • If your pet has been wormed, this can kill your compost worms
  • You don't want to use dog or cat poo compost on anything you eat, like your veggie patch
Handy tips:
  • ​It's great to compost pet poo, but best to have a separate system that you don't use on your veggie patch or fruit trees.
  • Try bokashi rather than a worm farm if your pet has just been wormed
  • Carnivorous pets (dogs/cats) - best to avoid putting this poo in your regular compost system. Keep a separate system and save the compost from this system for your ornamental, not your food production garden
  • If your pet has just been wormed, their poo will kill your compost worms - wait a couple of weeks before you start adding it back to your worm farm
  • Native plants do not cope well with high nutrients (phosphorous and nitrogen) - pet poo is high in these
  • Chook poo composts well but is often too potent for a worm farm

Pet poo systems - use the concept in conjunction with the tips above


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  • Home
  • Join
  • Order
    • Hume
    • Everywhere else
  • Learn
    • Food Waste
    • Worm farming >
      • Guide to Worm Farming
      • Fun facts
      • Surviving Heat Waves
    • Composting >
      • Introduction to Composting
      • Feeding your compost
      • Compost Maintenance
      • Harvesting and using Compost
      • Troubleshooting Compost Problems
      • Composting FAQs
    • Bokashi
    • Chooks
  • Toolbox
    • FAQs
    • Choosing a compost system
    • Community >
      • Compost hotspots
      • Chat
      • Drop off your compost
      • Community gardens
    • Downloads >
      • Kids' activities
    • Pet poo
    • Blog
    • Hume welcome survey
  • About
    • Contact us
    • Councils