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Getting a Zero Waste Dog can be difficult
Once you get into the zero waste groove, small changes to your daily life get easier, but a dog keeps generating waste: food bags, toys, treats, bathing supplies and poop bags all add to it. A few simple swaps cut that waste and save money at the same time.
As you check out these tips, it is most important to know that there is no need to be perfect. Pets generate a lot of waste and that is ok! Start with choosing just ONE of these tips to try and see how it goes.
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1. What to do with all those dog food bags?
Unlike the food we eat, zero waste dog food is incredibly difficult to achieve. It is hard to find without packaging or in bulk. Food packaging is essentially an inevitable part of owning any pet, but unfortunately these bags are typically not recyclable. One way to avoid dog food bags as a source of waste is to make your own dog food but that can be a difficult task to take on. There are plenty of homemade dog food recipes out there to try.
A simpler step is to reuse empty dog food bags as trash can liners, giving them another life before they go to landfill. A large food bag (25 pounds or so) fits a kitchen trash can; if you have a smaller dog, try lining a bathroom or office trash can with the food bag. Each reused bag is one fewer trash bag to buy.
Alternatively, there are a few dog food brands that offer take back programs on their dog food bags, such as Earthborn, Open Farm or Royal Canin. These brands run their recycling programs through Terracycle. This could be a good option to explore if you are able to change your dog’s diet, or are starting with a new pet.
Ultimately, dog food bags are typically not recyclable so the best way is the find ways to reuse those bags or participate in a take back program like those from Earthborn, Open Farm or Royal Canin.2. Zero Waste Dog Toys
Plush toys that get torn apart and replaced over and over get expensive and become one more waste stream. Start by restuffing them for as long as they hold together; if the fun for your dog is pulling the stuffing out, a restuffed toy does the job as well as a new one.
The next step is a toy built to be restuffed. The Hol-ee Roller ball is essentially a re-stuffable toy: fill it with the insides of de-stuffed toys, old socks or other fabric scraps.
When the stuffing has been pulled out, re-stuff it and go again, with no new toy to buy. Hiding a treat among the stuffing gives your dog something to sniff out. One ball can stand in for a steady stream of plush toys.
Sometimes it’s the cheapest toys that are the best. A toilet paper tube stuffed with treats or food makes your dog work out how to get it out. Old t-shirts and socks make tug toys, so there is no need to spend extra money on rope toys. For old clothes that can’t be reused or donated because they are stained or hole-y, upcycle them into dog toys: tie knots in them, or tie several socks together.
Another challenging mind game: put a few treats or pieces of dog food in a few cups of a muffin tray and place tennis balls over the top. Challenge your dog to sniff out the food, it helps them train their nose, use their brain, and tires them out as well!
3. Zero Waste Dog Treats
If your dog likes to chew, try a natural antler. These will sometimes come package free and are a great natural chew.
The Kong is a reusable treat toy. It can be stuffed with just about anything from peanut putter to pumpkin puree (that can be bought in recyclable containers). There are tons of Kong stuffing recipes that offer a more natural treat for your pet. Plus, these can be frozen to make it more of a challenge for your dog to lick out.
Again, some of the best treats are the cheapest! If your dog likes ice cubes, they are a free treat with no bag to throw away.
Chopped vegetables like broccoli stems and carrots work too. Scatter a few pieces around the kitchen while you prep dinner and turn it into a game of “find it!”: less waste from your kitchen prep and another free treat.
There are honestly a ton of options to choose from when it comes to zero waste dog treats:- Carrot
- Apple Slices
- Peanut Butter
- Ice Cubes
- Bananas
- Blueberries
- Watermelon
Or – another great option – you can make your own homemade zero waste dogs treats. These are very simple to make, have only a few ingredients, and can be a fun activity for the family to enjoy together.
4. Pet shampoo bars
Shampoo bars are one of the simpler plastic-free swaps for people, and there are dog shampoo bars too. Ethique sells a dog shampoo bar in plastic-free packaging. Their products come packaged without plastic and are always a solid choice (no pun intended).
A bar takes one plastic shampoo bottle out of your dog’s grooming routine.
Your path doesn’t have to be perfect but any step forward will make a positive impact and that includes the steps you take on your zero waste dog journey.
Feeding gear is worth the same scrutiny: our stainless steel dog bowl guide checks which bowls actually disclose their steel grade on the label, since most just say “stainless steel” and stop there.
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