07/09/2026
A productive meeting last Friday, bringing together Stroud District Council officers, canine welfare professionals and experts from the worlds of veterinary science and organic waste disposal. Big thanks to Pet Impact, Playschool For Dogs and Guy Blanch for joining.
It was an opportunity to present the body of work weāve been developing over the past 12 months to explore more sustainable ways of processing dog poo. Because, letās be honest, the scale of the problem is hard to ignore.
Every year, millions of tonnes of dog waste is produced across England, much of it sealed in plastic bags marketed as ācompostableā. This kind of greenwashing compounds the problem further, creating a perception that the waste will somehow magically disappear if itās left hanging from a tree. š±š©
We need to rethink the entire lifecycle of dog waste, from what happens when a dog goes to the toilet, how owners respond, how itās collected and processed, and ultimately whether its nutrients can be recovered, safely sanitised and returned to the system as a resource.
Thatās no small task, but the even bigger challenge is winning over public opinion.
In this throw away culture that we live in, dog waste is regarded as just another linear waste stream. And yet, as we continue to burn and bury it, science suggests it is perhaps more rich in nutrients than livestock fertiliser. Many see it as disgusting, but processed correctly, it could be a poo powerhouse. š©ā»ļøšŖšæ
Changing that mindset means challenging some very long standing systems. Thatās why, in this very small corner of the Cotswolds, weāve been working hard to on board councils and credible organisations such as Dogs Trust and National Trust Cotswolds. If weāre going to shift public perception, people need to see that this isnāt just a barking backyard experiment.
Weāre also engaged in ongoing discussions with the Environment Agency. Thereās a lengthy to do list to meet the threshold required to support new research trials. But while that rumbles on, there are lots of small actions we can all do to help tackle the problem at a local level.
Consistent reporting of dog-fouling using SDCās website - https://www.stroud.gov.uk/online-services/report-it/dog-mess-or-fouling-problems/, promoting responsible dog ownership, increased patrols, working with vets and dog related businesses and reviewing bin capacity and collection rates.
Council support is important in helping with the education piece - signposting residents, building understanding and encouraging new patterns of behaviour. Because ultimately, this project is as much about creating a cultural shift as it is about the safe sanitisation of dog waste.
If encouraged to do so, many more dog owners could choose to safely home-compost their dogās waste for non-edible uses rather than automatically putting it in a public bin or, worse, leaving it on the ground, (thanks to all those who do the right thing. š¾)
If we understood the benefits of reusing dog waste, alongside the potential financial and environmental savings, perhaps it would influence our choices.
And what a difference that could make to the pressure on public bins and the problem of dog fouling. And thatās just the start. Imagine a world where the science is complete and recycling dog waste is the norm - drop off points at community composting sites, weekly collections, commercial processing using anaerobic digestion or similar - itās a long way off, but thatās the dream! š
The message should no longer simply be about encouraging people to dispose of dog poo responsibly. It should also be about how we dispose of it sustainably. Itās a small but important shift from simply getting rid of dog poo to taking responsibility for its whole lifecycle.
That means developing the science and safe processing systems, testing new end uses, working with regulators, councils and waste services and, perhaps hardest of all, changing the way we think. Itās about a long-term approach, underpinned by the right science, infrastructure and public messaging.
The ambition is ultimately to create a system where the sustainable choice isnāt the difficult one.
Itās the normal one.
