Janina's Profile

I recently read that cat litter falls into the "other" category of solid waste disposal in landfills. The entire "other" category only makes up 4% of the landfill waste. While not something to ignore, it should be observed as a low number.

As someone mentioned above, many localities ban flushing of litter and cat feces, and composting is also an apparent "no-no" because of Toxicplasmosis surviving the compost process. I have also read that in many cities, loose litter and unbagged cat waste is prohibited, and in some places must be double-bagged. With these prohibitions, our only option is to dispose of used litter in the local landfills.

This brings us to the next decision: Paper or Plastic. One can assume that cat litter is going to remain for a significant time span in the landfill system because nothing decomposes in landfills for a REALLY LONG time. Additionally, I believe municipalities actually want the landfills to remain separate and quarantined off from the water and soil around them, which leads me to believe they don't really want the contents decomposing quickly and re-entering our environment at an accelerated rate. (seems like a good thing to me)

With all this said, the choice between plastic and paper based on decomposition rates seems mute, since these things are there for a super long time anyway. (I've read that newspapers are in better condition in landfills 20 years later than they are stacked in your garage for that same spell of time.)

The argument now shifts to which is better: paper or plastic based on the production phase. Based on what I've read, the signs point to plastic over paper as far as production and resource use is concerned.

Now, rather than pay to use a bag one time (kitty scoop bags, bio litter liners, etc) I'm probably going to continue using free Target shopping bags because they are the sturdiest, with no holes in them like the grocery bags have on the seam. When I have enough to keep me in 2-4 bags per week (I have two cats and may consider double bagging, hate the thought of cat feces hitting my garbage man in the face!), I'll refuse the bags in the shop and use my cloth bags like I already do at the grocery.

Thoughts?

I would say try www.jcpenney.com. They have great options for custom sheers and I did a quick check and you can get a nice pair for about $200 on sale, to your custom specs.

Good luck!

Nice, but rather boring.