Trash Talk: Dog Poop

The Santa Fe Watershed consists of 285 square miles of land from Lake Peak (our watershed’s highest point) to where the Santa Fe River meets the Rio Grande. All the rain and snowmelt from these lands drain into the Santa Fe River. Everything within a watershed – including land, vegetation, and yes, pet waste – can affect water quality downstream.

Dog owners are not “fertilizing nature” by leaving their pup’s poop on the ground. Excess nitrogen and phosphorus in domestic pet waste can negatively impact natural landscapes and encourage the growth of invasive plant species.

Further, rainwater can wash pet waste into storm drains and eventually into waterways, contributing to excess algae and bacteria growth, making our waterways unsafe for recreation and aquatic life.

Fortunately, the solution is simple: scoop the poop!   ▶ Click here to go back to Trash Talk: Overview.

Four tips to prevent pet waste:

  1. Always carry poop bags during walks with your dog. Encourage other pet owners to do the same by leading by example and spreading awareness. Pet waste bags can be found along most trails and parks in Santa Fe.
  2. Because of health and environmental risks, dog waste is not good fertilizer or compost. Dispose of it in the trash so it will go to a landfill. The City of Santa Fe, Santa Fe County, and NMDOT have also endorsed flushing it (without the bag of course).
  3. On hikes, think “Leave No Trace.” Bring an odor-proof container or bag and carry the poop out with you. You can also bury it 6-12 inches deep in the ground, away from water, walking trails, and gardens.
  4. Repurpose bags! Bread, produce, newspaper, or used deli bags do the trick.

Also, picking up your pet’s waste is the law in the City of Santa Fe (Chapter 5, §7.6) and Santa Fe County (§ 95.55).

The scoop on poop bags:

Certified compostable bags

Pros: Great, but only if headed to facilities with the appropriate conditions to break down compostable plastics and pet waste.

Cons: Thin and break easily; more expensive. No such commercial facility in Santa Fe.

Biodegradable bags

Pros: Made from various organic or inorganic materials, so may be a good alternative to traditional plastic bags

Cons: Leave a residue when they break down; not compostable.

Re-purposed plastic bags

Pros: Gives additional life to bags that would otherwise be thrown away; stronger and block smell better than most pet waste bags – you can double bag with less guilt!

Cons: Plastic still ends up in the landfill. (Though better sequestered in a landfill than breaking down and adding to the microplastics in our environment.)

Information from City of Santa Fe, Santa Fe County, NMDOT, US EPA, Recombitek canine parovirus poster, Enviro Pet Waste Network. Click here to download a trifold of this information!  

Best and worst practices:

Best – Reusing plastic bags thrown in receptacles headed for a landfill.

Better – Biodegradable or compostable bags thrown in receptacles headed for a landfill.

OK – Traditional plastic dog poop bags thrown in receptacles headed for a landfill.

Very Bad – Leaving unscooped poop on trails. Unsightly and messy problem if stepped in. Bacteria and other contaminants end up in our waterways.

Worst – Leaving bagged poop on trails. Microplastics and contaminants end up in our waterways as bag breaks down.