Politics & Government

Environmental Minute: Dog Waste Is Everybody's Business

Lorain County dogs produce more than 5 tons of waste every day.

Editor's note: The following information was provided by the Environmental Affairs Advisory Board of

We all know picking up after our dogs is the ‘neighborly’ thing to do, but it is also important business when you consider:

  • There are 29,000 registered dogs in Lorain County
  • Those dogs produce 5 to 6 tons of waste every day.
  • It’s the Law (Avon Lake Codified Ordinance 660.03).  Failure to comply could result in ticketing and fines.
  • Canine waste poses health hazards to humans and other animals, carrying bacteria and parasites such as: e.coli, salmonella, roundworm, heartworm, tapeworm and parvovirus.
  • Dog feces can break down into the soil and ground water allowing pollutants to flow directly into Lake Erie, increasing the dead zone in the lake.
  • In 1991, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) deemed pet waste a “nonpoint source of pollution” which put poop in the same category as oil and toxic chemicals

To properly dispose of dog waste you can:

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  • Bag it and throw it in your trash.
  • Bury it - by digging a hole at least 5 inches deep (away from vegetable gardens and playgrounds) and covering completely with soil.
  • Flush it down your toilet.


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