To The Editor:
Last week's article about dog waste – while an important topic – contains some blatant reporting falsities which beg correcting. It also doesn’t address the larger problem in a responsible actionable manner that addresses the root of the pollution problem. The article states, "Dog waste is not great for lawns. It does not compost. The nutrient compost in pet waste will burn and discolor lawns. The EPA classifies pet waste as a pollutant.”
Of course, dog poop composts and biodegrades – all manure does. Whether it’s “good” for lawns depends on its concentration and what the animal eats. All manure can be highly beneficial for plants (including turf grass) if it’s not over-applied; dog manure is no different. Urine is actually what burns plants (as it contains nearly all of the nitrogen), not excrement.
While dog “owners,” of course, should not leave their dog’s poop near water sources or trails, simply putting it plastic bags and landfilling it to release methane (about 25 times more powerful of a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide when it breaks down) is not responsible either. The best place for any excrement is the way nature has already designed – to be spread lightly in areas where plants can uptake it and soil organisms can break it down or in dedicated compost piles. Those with dogs who want to treat their watershed responsibly compost their dog poop in piles at home or ensure that it’s spread at least 50 to 150 feet (or more if the land is steep) away from water/wells/springs, on pastures, forestland, old fields, etc. Landfilling organic matter will be not only irresponsible but it will also be illegal in 2020 in Vermont.
Ben Falk
Moretown
