Where Does Dog Poop Go After You Pick It Up? (And Why It Still Matters)

For most responsible pet owners, picking up after your dog is second nature. You grab a bag, scoop the mess, toss it in the nearest trash can—and move on. Job done, right?

Not exactly.

While cleaning up after your dog keeps sidewalks clean and storm drains clear, the story doesn’t end at the bin. The truth is, what happens after you toss that bag still matters—a lot.

From Trash Can to Landfill: Where Does It Go?

In most parts of the U.S.—including Northern Virginia, Washington DC, and suburban Maryland—bagged pet waste goes straight into the regular trash stream. From there, it’s hauled to a local landfill, sealed in tight… and left to sit.

Dog poop is organic, so in theory, it could decompose. But landfills are built to minimize air and moisture. That slows decomposition to a crawl. Especially when the poop is locked inside a plastic bag.

The Problem with Traditional Poop Bags

Most dog waste bags are made from polyethylene, a petroleum-based plastic. These bags don’t biodegrade. Instead, they break into smaller and smaller pieces—eventually becoming microplastics.

So even if you’re doing the right thing by cleaning up after your pet, that plastic bag essentially mummifies the waste, preserving it in a landfill for hundreds of years.

So What’s the Better Option?

Composting dog waste is possible—but complicated. It requires controlled, high-heat conditions and strict pathogen control. A few municipalities and private services offer pet waste composting, but they’re rare.

Flushable bags? Also tricky. Most local plumbing and wastewater systems can’t handle them—and flushing the wrong bag can cause backups or damage treatment systems.

That’s why switching to bio-based bags is one of the most practical and impactful choices communities can make.

Why Bio-Based Bags Make a Difference

At CoPS on Doody, we supply 92% USDA Certified Bio-Based dog waste bags. These bags are made primarily from renewable plants—not petroleum. That means fewer greenhouse gas emissions during production, less fossil fuel use, and a smaller environmental footprint.

No, they won’t vanish in a landfill. But they don’t add to the plastic problem, either. Think of it this way: the poop still goes to the landfill—but the bag it rode in on didn’t cost the planet as much.

What This Means for Community Associations

For community managers and HOAs, understanding the full journey of pet waste helps you make smarter choices:

• Provide clean, stocked pet waste stations to keep sidewalks and green spaces clean.

• Choose high bio-content bags to reduce your community’s carbon footprint.

• Align your pet amenities with your broader sustainability goals—without asking residents to do anything differently.

More than anything, it shows your community cares—not just about appearances, but about impact.

So next time you restock your stations or review your vendor contracts, remember: even the smallest change in bag choice can ripple out in a big way.

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