When you own an indoor cat, you have to deal with dirty cat litter. Disposing of your cat’s litter can be a bit of a challenge. Most people use plastic bags to discard them, which can be quite damaging to the environment.
So, how can you dispose of cat litter without plastic bags?
Read on to find out!
How to Dispose of Cat Litter Without a Plastic Bag (in Eco-Friendly Ways)
You need to find an eco-friendly way to dispose of cat litter. Here are some ways to dispose of cat litter without using plastic bags:
Use the Litter in Decorative Gardens
It’s one of the best eco-friendly methods of cat litter disposal.
Use your litter disposal scoop to scoop out the dirty litter. Use the litter to decorate the gardens in your yard. The litter can act as manure and help your plants thrive.
Discard the Litter in a Biodegradable Litter Bag
Some cat owners use biodegradable bags to get rid of their cat’s litter. This method is ideal for disposing of litter that might not break down in a decorative garden.
A biodegradable litter bag is designed to contain enough heat to break down the litter components.
To use a biodegradable bag correctly, scoop some water into the litter and then scoop it into the bag. Once done, the decomposition process will start.
Scoop and Toss the Dirty Litter
Even though this is certainly not the ideal way to dispose of cat litter, it’s much better than using a plastic bag.
All you have to do is use a metal or high-quality plastic scoop to put the dirty litter into a huge biodegradable pickup bag.
You can continue to scoop the litter daily into the bag, and once it’s full, throw it into the outside garbage can.
You can also scoop the dirty litter in a newspaper, cover it properly, and throw it in the trash bin. Don’t throw the litter into the trash can directly.
The stench of cat poop will invite other animals to rummage through the garbage. This can spread diseases.
It will also result in angry neighbors, which isn’t something you want to deal with.
Use the Litter in a Compost Pile
You can dump the cat litter into a compost pile. If you don’t have a compost heap, you can buy, build, or up-cycle one quite easily.
If you want to build one, all you have to do is get a wooden box similar to the one used as a raised flower bed.
It should have enough space for the growing heap and for you to turn it easily.
When following this disposal method, make sure that the pile is at a safe distance from the food growing in your garden.
Additionally, don’t throw bentonite clay or sand litter in the compost as it’s not biodegradable.
You can use biodegradable litter made from materials, such as grass seed, newspaper, or pine.
If your compost is not heating over 145 degrees Fahrenheit, don’t use the litter in your vegetable garden. In such cases, it’s best if you scoop out the waste and dispose of it in a biodegradable bag.
You can then throw the remaining litter into the compost pile at a safe distance from the growing food.
Moreover, if you happen to live in a coastal area, you must skip the in-ground composting method altogether. It’s because the litter might contaminate the water and the marine life.
It’s best if you use a bucket or a bin to compose the litter under carefully managed conditions. Alternatively, throw the litter in a biodegradable bag.
Also read: Are Cat Food Cans Recyclable?
Some Eco-Friendly Tips on Discarding Cat Litter without Plastic Bags
When using the aforementioned methods of cat litter disposal, try to adhere to these rules:
- Don’t use disposable scoops to dispose of the litter. You might be tempted to use them to prevent the spread of diseases from cat litter. However, these scoops can damage the environment. It’s best if you use a high-quality plastic or metal scoop that you can store and reuse. If you’re worried about contamination, simply clean the scoop with castile soap and vinegar.
- Don’t use litter liners because they will only contribute to the waste without providing you with any obvious benefits.
Don’t Flush the Litter
Even though you might be tempted to dispose of cat litter by flushing it, you must never do so. Even if the litter box says it’s flushable, just don’t do it.
For starters, it’s terrible for the city’s sewer system. The litter can clog your pipes and result in a sewage backup.
It will result in water damage and costly repairs. Even flushable litters aren’t designed for septic systems.
Wastewater treatment plants are also not designed to process cat waste or things found in it. So, even if the litter is flushable, the septic system might not be able to break down the cat waste.
Moreover, dirty litter can also contaminate drinking water. It will have a direct impact on our world as it can hurt our ecosystem.
Cat litter can contain a parasite called Toxoplasma gondii. It can cause a disease known as toxoplasmosis in humans. Healthy individuals are typically able to fight this type of infection, but it can be dangerous for individuals with compromised immune systems.
Since Toxoplasma gondii can easily spread via water and soil, you must not flush the litter.
Use Biodegradable Cat Litter
If you want to adopt an eco-friendly lifestyle, then skipping plastic bags might not be enough. You also need to stop using cay litter as it’s not safe for the environment.
This litter is not biodegradable or compostable. Additionally, it can be toxic to cats if ingested.
Instead of using bentonite clumping litter, you can choose the following biodegradable cat litters:
Grass Seed Litter
This is inarguably one of the most popular biodegradable litters on the market. It doesn’t spread dust and is good at controlling waste odor.
However, you might need to sweep around the litter box more often because it might get stuck to your cat’s toes.
With that said, grass seed litter does clump exceptionally well, which is a huge bonus for any cat parent. It’s because the dirty litter is so much easier to scoop out.
Shredded Newspaper
Believe it or not, shredded newspaper litter is another popular biodegradable litter option.
You can either shred old newspapers to create the litter yourself or opt for a branded variety.
The one drawback to using this litter is that it doesn’t control odor quite as well as grass seed litter.
Moreover, your cat might not take to this litter, but it’s certainly worth giving it a shot. You can shop around for one with good reviews.
Coconut Litter
It’s a hypoallergenic and biodegradable cat litter, which is a win-win. It’s made purely from coconut husk.
Even though it’s a relatively new biodegradable cat litter option, it clumps quite well.
It also eliminates the odor of cat waste. You can try one with exceptional reviews to see if your cat approves of it.
Wheat Litter
Another highly-rated option, wheat litter is essentially made from renewable wheat.
Even though this litter might track a little, it is certainly absorbent and clumps super-fast.
You can try different brands of wheat litter to see which one your cat likes.
Pine Cobble Litter
It’s another popular biodegradable litter on the market. It’s made from renewable pine.
It’s one of the best and safest litters to use for kittens, infection-prone cats, and cats recovering from surgery.
It also has a high absorbency rate, and it clumps the waste pretty fast. It reduces the odor as well.
All the cat litter mentioned above is easily biodegradable. You can dispose of them by using them in your compost bin or decorative garden.
If you are committed to switching your cat to a biodegradable litter, you might need to try a few out.
The best way to switch the litter is to replace the only ¼ of your cat’s current litter with the new one. You can then continue to replace ¼ of the old liter with the new one each week.
This way, your cat will not reject the litter right off the bat. It will have plenty of time to get used to the new litter. This process will make the transition easier for you and your furry friend.
The Bottom Line
You don’t have to use plastic bags to dispose of cat litter.
You can throw the litter in your decorative garden, scoop it out in a newspaper and dump it, or and use it in a compost heap. These are all eco-friendly options to dispose of cat litter.
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