How To Dispose Of Dog Poop (And Why Burying It Backfires)

You finally picked it all up. Now you're standing in the yard holding a bag and wondering: where does this actually go? Trash can? Toilet? Woods behind the house? It seems like a simple question, but getting it wrong can mean smells, flies, and bacteria ending up right back where you started.

The Best Option For Most Homes: Bag It And Trash It

For most people, the simplest and safest method is to double-bag it, tie it tight, and put it in your outdoor trash can with the lid closed. That's it. In the Florida heat, a tightly tied bag makes a huge difference in smell and flies around your garbage can, especially if pickup is still a few days away.

Pro tip: keep your trash can in the shade if you can, and rinse it out every few weeks. Heat is what turns a normal garbage can into the smelliest spot on your property.

Why Burying Dog Poop Backfires

Burying it feels natural, but it doesn't make the problem go away. Parasite eggs like roundworm can survive in soil for a long time, and burying waste just moves them underground where kids dig, dogs sniff, and gardens grow. In Florida's sandy soil with a high water table, buried waste can also get closer to groundwater than you'd think.

Can You Compost Dog Poop?

Not in your regular compost pile, and never on anything you plan to eat. A home compost pile usually doesn't get hot enough to kill the bacteria and parasites in dog waste. Unless you have a dedicated pet-waste system set up specifically for that purpose, keep it out of the compost.

What About Flushing It?

Some people flush dog waste (without the bag) so it gets treated at the water plant. If you're on a septic system, which is common in parts of Zephyrhills and Dade City, check with your septic professional first. Never flush the bag, even the ones labeled flushable or compostable.

The Worst Place To Leave It: The Yard

The real problem isn't usually how people throw it away. It's how long it sits before anyone picks it up. Every rainstorm washes bacteria from waste in the yard toward storm drains, ponds, and lakes. The fastest way to protect your family, your dog, and your neighborhood is to get it picked up regularly.

Want Us To Handle The Whole Thing?

When Scoop Dog services your yard, we scoop it, bag it, and haul it away. Nothing goes in your trash can, so there's no smelly bin waiting for garbage day. Weekly service starts at $14.99. Get your free instant quote for Wesley Chapel, Zephyrhills, or Dade City and never think about dog poop disposal again.

Never Bag, Tie or Haul Dog Poop Again

Bags, gloves, a stinky trash can baking in the sun until garbage day: disposal is the worst part of the whole job. Skip it entirely. We scoop it, bag it and take it with us, so nothing goes in your trash can and nothing sits in your yard. Weekly service starts at $14.99 with no contracts, and every visit is backed by our Spotless Yard Guarantee: if we miss a spot, tell us within 24 hours and we'll come back and re-clean it free. Still not happy? That visit is free.

We're local, and we serve dog owners in Wesley Chapel, Zephyrhills, Land O' Lakes, San Antonio, Dade City, Lutz, New Tampa and Plant City. Get your free instant quote in about 60 seconds, with no phone call needed.

Keep reading: Florida's Rainy Season Turns Your Yard Into A Bigger Problem Than You Realize and Why Dog Poop Is a Bigger Health Risk Than You Think.

About the Author

Tiffani, Owner of Scoop Dog

U.S. Army veteran and Zephyrhills dog mom to Luna and Snickers. Tiffani personally scoops yards and walks dogs across Wesley Chapel, Zephyrhills, Land O' Lakes, San Antonio, Dade City, Lutz, New Tampa and Plant City, and writes every guide from what she sees in local backyards each week. Read her story.