Pet poo - to compost or not to compost

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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