What colour should dog poop bins be?

1. 76

   Nettlemereposted 11 years ago

   What colour should dog poop bins be?
   
   Should they be red which stands out as a reminder to use them, green which blends in with the scenery better or some other colour?
   
   

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2. 90

   Just Ask Susanposted 11 years ago

   Do you have dog poop bins in the UK? If so I wish Canada would catch on to this as we don't have specified places to dispose of the dog poop. I called our local garbage dump and asked if they'd like it separated into a specific bag and they told me to toss it in with my regular household garbage. Surprised me a bit.

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   1. 76

      Nettlemereposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      We have them all over the UK, especially in towns which is handy and places where lots of people walk. The one pictured is quite a new one by the gate to a popular moorland walking area near Burnley.

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   2. 60

      hisandhersposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I agree! In Toronto we are allowed to throw our pet waste into our household green bins (compost bins) but they don't make these publicly available which I think would be great in dog parks where we have to throw it in regular garbage cans.

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3. 89

   JayeWisdomposted 11 years ago

   You're going to laugh at my answer, but that's alright.  I am unable (because of limited mobility) to take my dog for longer walks, so I walk her on leash two or three times per day around my large (half acre) back yard.  When she was young, I bought one of those doggy "septic tanks" that is placed into the ground and uses water with enzymes to dissolve the dog waste, but it didn't work well enough to suit me.  That is when I began what has been my preferred method for several years.
   
   When we go outdoors, I take along two regular-sized baby wipes. One is laid out flat on the ground after my dog poops, and the other is first used to wipe her bottom (yes, because she sits on the furniture and sleeps in my bed, and good hygiene is important for a companion pet that lives in the house), then the same side is used to cover and pick up the poop and place it on the flat baby wipe. I bring the four edges together to carry the "package" indoors. Then I FLUSH IT in the bathroom!  After all, that's what the sewer system is for....Works for me. No odor, no problem.
   
   On the few occasions when we are somewhere else besides home and she gets the "urge to go", I have baby wipes in a plastic zip bag that I carry with me. The same method can be used anywhere there is a bathroom or public restroom. I think it beats throwing a bag of smelly dog feces in a garbage can or even a special "poop bin." 
   
   I just realized I didn't even answer your actual question--what color a "poop bin" should be.  I think they are a good idea, especially in cities, but I've never seen one anywhere I've been in the U.S.  My thought would be any bright color that would come to be associated with its purpose so people would see and use it. Since red and yellow are used for traffic signs, perhaps a bright orange or bright purple? I don't think camouflage is a good idea. If the bin blends in with nature, it may not be visible when needed.

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   1. 90

      Just Ask Susanposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Jaye, What a great idea to flush it!  When I walk my dogs I carry those little poop scoop bags with me and throw them into my own garbage when I get home.

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   2. 76

      Nettlemereposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      That's a good idea Jaye and clearly works well for you.

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   3. 89

      JayeWisdomposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      My "technique" of poop scooping and disposal is probably another manifestation of "overkill" from not getting my first pet until the age of 61!  However, it does work well for me. I also wash her feet off whenever we come back indoors!

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4. 76

   Shaddieposted 11 years ago

   Most of the bins around here are green I think... It is an environmentally friendly color, so people use it a lot for things like this. I've also seen black, though it is a little off putting.

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   1. 76

      Nettlemereposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I like the idea of green, especially in countryside areas.

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5. 90

   CZCZCZposted 11 years ago

   Be direct and to the point make them brown   Green I think would just invite people tossing in other recyclable materials.

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6. 97

   DrMark1961posted 11 years ago

   Sorry Nettlemere when I saw this question I thought you were joking! I really do not think it matters what color they are, but I was interested in this concept. Do you know what they do with it? Is it just tossed into already overflowing landfills?If the waste is collected in that way it would make it simple to add to municipal vermicomposting sites.

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7. 96

   cat on a soapboxposted 11 years ago

   I think bright orange is even better than red. I think by Fall, when the leaves turn,  most dog walkers will already know where the bins are situated.

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