Getting a Zero Waste Dog can be difficult
Once you get into the zero waste groove, making small changes to your daily life becomes pretty easy, but there is one exception we’ve discovered, and that is our dog. Our three-year-old German Shepherd mix is full of fun and energy…and waste. And not just what we pick up in the backyard! Everything from her food, toys, and treats to bathing supplies and poop bags generates waste and a lot of it. Along the way, we have discovered some simple swaps that we’ve brought into our dog’s life that reduce waste AND save money.
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. We do not do this but there are plenty of homemade dog food recipes out there to try.
Instead, we now upcycle our empty dog food bags into trash can liners, giving them another life before we send them to the landfill. We have a big dog so the 25 pound food bag is about the right size to fill our kitchen trash container. If you have a smaller dog, try lining a bathroom or office trash can with the food bag. We find this works really well as a repurposed trash bag, allows us to reduce the waste we generate and also reduces the money we spend on new trash bags.
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
Our dog loves to destroy! Our living room is more often than not covered with the stuffing of her unstuffed plush animals. We love watching how much fun she has with these toys but purchasing them over and over again gets very expensive and is just another waste stream we wanted to reduce. To start, we restuff her toys as long as possible to keep them going for as long as possible. For our dog, the act of unstuffing the toy is the best part so she doesn’t seem to mind.
The next step in the life of her toys is a recent discovery of our’s. The Hol-ee Roller ball is essentially a re-stuffable toy that we fill back up with the insides of her de-stuffed animals, old socks or anything else we can think of putting inside.
Our dog loves pulling the stuff out and the best part is we don’t need to run to the store for a new toy for her to play with. We simply re-stuff and go again. It’s fun to make it even more stimulating by hiding a treat inside among the other stuffing material that she has to sniff out. This toy is a huge zero waste win.
Sometimes it’s the cheapest toys that are the best. I like to stuff toilet paper tubes with treats or food and have her use her brain to figure out how to get it out. I also find that old t-shirts and socks make great tug toys! No need to spend extra money on expensive ropes. For those old clothes that can’t be reused or donated because they are stained or hole-y, upcycle them into dog toys. I will tie knots in them or tie several socks together and let my dog go to town.
Another challenging mind game we’ve found is taking a muffin tray, putting a few treats or pieces of dog food in a few of the muffin cups 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 like ours does, try a natural antler. These will sometimes come package free and are a great natural chew.
One of our favorite treat toys is the Kong. 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! When we discovered that our dog liked ice cubes, we wondered why we even bothered with purchasing bagged treats from the store. She’ll hear the ice dispenser and come running!
She also loves chopped up veggies like broccoli stems and carrots. When I’m prepping for dinner, I’ll scatter some of those veggie pieces around the kitchen and turn it into a game for her to “find it!”. This becomes less waste for our kitchen prep and another free treat for our dog.
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
The list goes on, but there are a ton of fruits and vegetables that are safe for your dog. If you’re unsure, check the American Kennel Club list for which are safe and aren’t safe.
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
We continue to keep our eyes out for new ways to reduce the waste produced throughout our life and shampoo bars have become one of our favorite additions to our own zero waste journey. It turns out there are zero waste dog shampoo bar options, too. We love this Ethique Dog Shampoo Bar! Their products come packaged without plastic and are always a solid choice (no pun intended).
This is a great step in our zero waste dog journey, helping reduce and eliminate unnecessary plastic. Shampoo bars for dogs are made with natural ingredients that are safe and healthy for our pets and the planet.
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.