The do's and don'ts of throwing away dog poop
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Illustration: Brendan Lynch / Axios
If you throw your bagged dog poop into a neighbor's trash cart, there's a good chance you've made them mad — and probably committed a minor crime. Whoops.
The big picture: The question we posed last week about dog waste really got people fired up. We received dozens of reader responses to this one.
- It's easy to see why it's such an issue. A 2022 Minneapolis study found that their population of dogs generates more than 15,000 tons of waste annually — and we've got about twice their population of people, which stands to reason that we've also got about twice their population of dogs.
- All that waste has to go somewhere.
Friction point: Most of you said it's OK if someone's bagged dog poop ends up in your bin, especially if it's out on the curb on trash day, before the garbage truck arrives. But a sizable number said dumping it in a neighbor's bin is disrespectful and makes for a stinky cart.
Threat level: A City of Indianapolis spokesperson told Axios that putting any kind of trash in someone else's cart is technically illegal dumping.
Yes, but: They also told us that the Department of Business and Neighborhood Services, which enforces that section of the municipal code, lacks the capacity to cite individuals for this specific type of illegal dumping.
Here's what readers say about the issue:
Matthew S. finds it acceptable to put the waste in neighbors' carts, as long as the bag is tied and lid shut. "If there's a public trash can nearby, use that instead. Being a good neighbor means minimizing the impact on others!"
Grace W. wouldn't do it and wouldn't want strangers putting dog poop in her trash can but "also wouldn't freak out about it."
As a non-pet owner, Isabelle F. would be very displeased if someone threw their bagged dog poop in her trash can. "My thought would be if you're walking your dog, you're likely not too far away from your own home and should be able to throw it away in your own can."
Meredith J. says it's fair game if the can is on the street, alley or sidewalk but she'd never walk onto someone's property to throw anything away in their trash can.
Damon R. puts his dog waste in someone else's can on trash day only "when I know it won't be there long."
In the Meridian Hills neighborhood, Howard S. says the general rule is that if the trash barrel is at the curb awaiting pickup that day, it's acceptable to deposit your well-secured poop bag. "However, if the barrel's contents have been picked up it's an absolute no-no."
Josh P. didn't think much of the practice until his wife started using their can for it and realized the bags were getting stuck at the bottom. Now he's 100% against putting them in anyone else's can. "What this person is doing is creating a very poopy task for their neighbors!"
Jim R. would never put his dog waste bag in someone else's can. "What if someone put a poop bag in after the can was emptied? I store my trash bin in my garage. I don't want poop festering in my garage for a week."
Tim M. doesn't mind if a neighbor uses his can, though.
Better to put bagged poop in a neighbor's trash can than to leave it on the ground, if you ask Susan.
Rob B. feels the same and wants his neighbors to feel free to use his cart as long as they're cleaning up after their pets.
Simon M. doesn't think dog poop belongs in anyone's trash can. "I pick up my dog's poop and take it home to be flushed down the toilet."