Why That Extra 92% Matters: The Case for Bio-Based Dog Waste Bags in YourCommunity

When you’re managing a community, it’s easy to overlook the small stuff—like which dog waste bags go into your pet waste stations. With buildings to maintain, budgets to manage, and resident concerns to juggle, bags can feel like the least of your worries.

But experienced association managers and board members know better. The small details often speak volumes about your community’s values. And something as simple as a poop bag can quietly reflect your commitment to doing the right thing.

Let’s talk about 92% bio-based dog waste bags.

These aren’t biodegradable. They’re not compostable. They’re something smarter: bags made from 92% plant-based materials—like cornstarch or sugarcane—instead of 100% petroleum-based plastic. That shift may sound subtle. But in practice, it’s a meaningful step toward sustainability.

Most dog waste bags on the market are made entirely from plastic—fossil fuels pulled from the ground, refined, and manufactured into bags that will sit in landfills for centuries. They don’t just disappear. They break down into harmful microplastics, polluting soil, waterways, and even food chains. According to the EPA and NOAA, plastic pollution is one of the most urgent environmental threats in urban areas today.

A 92% bio-based bag doesn’t eliminate all of that—but it dramatically reduces the impact. These bags rely mostly on renewable resources that grow back each season. That means less drilling. Fewer emissions. A lower carbon footprint from the start. According to the USDA BioPreferred Program, even partially replacing plastic with biobased content helps cut greenhouse gas emissions over the product’s life cycle. At 92%, we’re not talking about a small improvement—we’re talking about a better majority.

You might be wondering: If these bags still end up in landfills, why bother?

That’s a fair question. Here’s the reality: compostable dog bags often require industrial composting facilities—facilities most communities simply don’t have. Without high heat and the right microbial conditions, compostable bags don’t break down any better than plastic ones. Most end up in the same landfill, where they perform no better—but often cost more and confuse well-meaning residents.

This is where 92% bio-based bags make more sense. They don’t promise perfect breakdown. Instead, they focus on the upstream problem: plastic use. Less oil, fewer emissions, no gimmicks. Just bags made mostly from plants—without the buzzwords or greenwashing.

And let’s not forget leadership. Choosing bio-based bags shows your community is thinking ahead. It says you care about more than just cleanliness. You’re willing to make smarter decisions—ones that protect your residents today and the environment they’ll inherit tomorrow.

At CoPS on Doody, we’ve partnered with hundreds of communities across Northern Virginia, Washington, DC, suburban Maryland, and Atlanta. We’ve seen firsthand how small, thoughtful choices like this build momentum. They spark bigger conversations. They drive real change.

No, it’s not just a bag. It’s a better choice. And when communities make better choices together, it adds up to real progress.

CoPS on Doody — Proudly serving communities that care.