4 simple and effective ways to dispose of cat litter

Knowing how to properly dispose of cat litter is important and an important part of the responsibility of pet cat owners; But do you know what to do with the used cat litter that you now want to throw away?

The importance of this issue is much more and beyond buying fresh litter for the domestic cat, because its improper disposal can have a negative impact on the environment. Piles of non-biodegradable waste in landfills, clogged sewer pipes, and polluted waterways are just a few of the major problems with cat litter disposal. If you reject them incorrectly and unprincipled, problems like this will happen.

So what do you think is the best way to dispose of cat litter? We discuss some simple methods that you can use.

 

1- Using a trash can to dispose of cat litter

One of the most common ways to dispose of cat litter is to use a litter box. Most countries have laws for waste segregation. It is a safe and smart method and reduces environmental pollution. Before you put the cat litter bag and litter in the trash, there are a few steps you should take, which we will review in the following section:

Use thicker bags for lumpy bedding types. One of the points that you should pay attention to is to avoid using thin bags, because they may tear easily. Use thicker bags so that they have high resistance if you put dense bedding in it.

If a heavy-duty bag is not available, you can use multiple bags that create more layers to dispose of cat litter. In this way, no tearing occurs when the bags are attacked.

If you have multiple cats, be sure to use multiple bags to dispose of cat litter, as the total amount of litter to be disposed of will multiply.

Another tip is to use separate litter bags to dispose of cat litter.

For health reasons, we recommend that you buy a separate bin to collect this type of waste. You may choose to mix the cat litter with organic waste, manure, or anything compostable. This idea can influence the reuse of waste for gardening.

That being said, in most cases, cat litter is classified as toxic waste because it is not compostable and does not biodegrade. If you collect cat litter properly and separate them, you have contributed to the health of the environment; Otherwise, they will be harmful.

The next thing is that every time you use a new litter bag to dispose of cat litter, you should close the lid and put it in the litter bag. For other times, use new bags to dispose of cat litter, as this will help control the unpleasant odor. It also reduces the possibility of tearing due to the weight of the garbage bag.

An interesting point to note is that you should not let garbage that you have collected several times, or even garbage that you collect daily, remain in bags with their lids open for a long time. Regular disposal of the contaminated litter collected from the cat box means maintaining a hygienic environment and prevents the formation of new bacteria in the contaminated litter.

If you don’t do these tips, there will be a risk of houseflies and the bad smell of garbage all over your house.

 

2-Can we turn cat litter waste into compost?

Let’s dig a little deeper into composting.

Converting cat litter to compost, which is an organic fertilizer, is not always the right solution! Because most cat litters are made from non-biodegradable materials. To make compost out of this waste, look for brands that say they are compostable or made from organic materials when buying cat litter.

If you are not familiar with making compost, in this section we will have a simple review.

The composting process breaks down organic matter into nutrient-rich soil, so instead of throwing cat litter in the trash, you can put it in a pit that will eventually decompose after changes in temperature and pressure. They turn into fertilizer.

You keep the environment healthier by choosing the right biodegradable cat litters that can be composted. When you turn a biodegradable substrate into compost, you can have a natural fertilizer and you will avoid using chemicals for agriculture and gardening.

Note that you can only compost cat litter that contains degradable organic matter. Crystalline substrates based on clay and silica are non-degradable, so they do not break down easily and are of no use for composting.

Some types of cat litter that can be turned into compost include wheat, corn, wood, and other natural and organic materials.

How to compost cat litter?

Is there an effective and environmentally friendly way to dispose of cat litter? In this case, two methods that are popular and distinct among families are introduced. The method of using a bucket to prepare compost and the method of preparation in a pit in the ground.

The method of preparing compost inside the bucket

To compost cat litter in a bin, you need a bin. This method is relatively easy to manage. You can even use your old and big bins. Put the garbage in it along with other materials. If you don’t have a compost bin, get one of these. One of the disadvantages of this method is that you can compost a small amount of cat litter. If you have a lot of waste, it will be more difficult for you.

The method of preparing compost in the ground pit

In the second method, you can dig a pit for making compost in the ground. This pit has a specific depth and width and can accommodate a larger volume of waste at a time. The main disadvantage of this method is that you have to find a suitable place to dig a pit. This place should not be near natural water sources or potable water or underground water. Otherwise, the leachate from composting can pollute the water.

 

3- How to dispose of cat litter without plastic bags?

When collecting contaminated waste, they usually use plastic garbage bags, but if these bags are not available, you can use resistant paper bags. In this case, if the cat’s litter is biodegradable, you can put the waste together with the bag into the pit or bucket when making compost.

Disposal methods for certain types of cat litter

There are different types of cat litter in the market, so ideal methods to dispose of certain types of them have been introduced. In this section, we examine how we can dispose of certain waste from these beds.

Carefully wash cat litter of newspaper origin

Cat litter that originates from recycled newspaper is an environmentally friendly option in itself. Waste and recycled newspapers are processed in such a way that they do not harm the environment after consumption and disposal. The easiest way to dispose of waste is to put it in your weekly household waste collection. These wastes are biodegradable and there is no concern for disposal.

An important point is that recycled newspaper does not separate, so you cannot discharge it into the sewer system or sewer pipes. Be careful in choosing the method of waste disposal in this particular type, because it may cause clogging of sewer pipes, which will cost you a lot.

The best way to dispose of recycled newspaper-derived cat litter is to compost it, as it is biodegradable.

Disposal of cat litter with clay origin

Another type of cat litter is clay litter. Collecting the waste of this type of litter with thick bags is the best way to dispose of it. You can even use double layer bags so that they don’t tear easily. In the following section, you will learn about the steps of disposing of this type of waste:

Collect lumps of clay using a tool. Put them in a thick or double-layered garbage bag and close the lid of the bag and seal it so that the smell does not spread. You can put the bag in the garbage disposal and keep germs and bacteria away from your home.

Wash and disinfect the tools you used to collect cat litter from clay sources after each use. Then store it in a ziplock bag to prevent the spread of bacteria.

Clay-based cat litters are prone to dust generation; Because when you clean them, they spread in the air. When you are collecting garbage, wear a mask so that this dust does not enter your respiratory system.

Silica-derived cat litter waste disposal

Silica or crystalline substrates are disposed of in the same way as we discussed about clay. Use the same steps as in the previous section for this type of bed that has a lumpy state. Fortunately, silica substrates do not produce as much dust as clay substrates during cleaning and collection. However, inhaling or inhaling dust can cause many problems for people’s health. In both cases, be sure to use a mask to clean the cat’s litter box.

4- Emptying in the bathroom

It may seem very convenient to empty cat litter into the bathroom sewer system, but we do not recommend doing this; Unless the cat litter you bought is washable.

Sewerage networks usually impose restrictions on the discharge of waste into the sewerage channel. If you flush or drain clumpy cat litter in your toilet system, it will clog the pipes, which will cost you a lot in the future.

Before you try to empty cat litter into the sewer system, make sure it is flushable.

Cat litter from wheat and corn can be disposed of in the sewer system, but cat litter from clay, silica or recycled newspapers is not suitable for this purpose; Because they become lumpy. Of course, it is recommended that you do not empty the first category, i.e. wheat and corn cat litter, into the sewage system, unless you are sure of the manufacturer’s brand and know that they are washable.

Another type of cat litter that can be washed is pine litter. These wastes are biodegradable and made from pine wood; So if you flush them down the toilet, they break down easily.

One of the reasons why it has been said that you should not empty cat litter waste of silica and clay in the toilet and sanitary system is that the nature of these materials is clumping. It’s true that silica and clay substrates can absorb odors when they’re dry, but they don’t when you flush them down the toilet bowl or sewer system. Clumps of clay and silica swell dramatically and can clog the piping system; This is where your troubles begin.

The best way to dispose of this type of waste is to bag it and never flush it down the drain or toilet.

Conclusion

Cat litter disposal methods are as essential and vital as buying the right products for these pets. There are some useful and important points to consider. Choose environmentally friendly and biodegradable cat litter as much as possible. If the cat litter you have chosen is dense or lumpy, collect them in thick bags and double-layered bags.

To turn cat litter into compost, you need to choose a location that is far from water sources. Cat litter should be disposed of away from the local sewer system, or away from waterways. Follow the laws of your area to dispose of this waste to avoid environmental problems.