Why Your Landscaper Shouldn’t Be Managing Pet Waste Stations (And Who Should)

If you manage a community association, you’ve likely faced the frustrating reality of pet waste stations: they seem minor… until they’re not. When handled poorly, these small fixtures become a big source of complaints and stress. One of the most common missteps? Asking your landscaping company to take care of them.

On paper, it sounds like a convenient solution. In practice, it creates more problems than it solves.

Here’s the truth: most landscapers don’t want the job. It’s not their specialty, it’s not what their crews are trained for, and—let’s be honest—it’s not the kind of task that showcases their skills. We’ve heard from many landscaping companies who only agree to do it because they don’t want to let the property manager down. But in the long run, it hurts their reputation more than it helps.

They’re experts at maintaining lawns and beautifying plant beds—not at emptying bins full of dog waste or tracking how many rolls of bags are left in each station.

And that’s where the real trouble starts: poor follow-through.

Landscapers often forget to restock or notify managers when stations are running low on bags—or worse, they don’t notice until residents start complaining. Suddenly, your inbox is full of angry emails, and your Friday afternoon is spent solving a problem that could have been avoided.

There’s a better way.

Pet waste management companies specialize in exactly this kind of work. It’s not an afterthought—it’s their core service. They arrive prepared, bring fresh bags every time, monitor usage, clean and empty bins consistently, and flag any damage before it becomes a bigger issue.

They don’t need to be reminded. They just get it done.

What’s more, pet waste professionals take pride in clean, stocked stations and tidy common areas. It’s their name on the line. That means better communication, better reliability, and far fewer headaches for you and your team. Some even offer eco-friendly options like USDA Certified 38% biobased poop bags—so you can meet sustainability goals without lifting a finger.

So here’s our advice:

If you love your landscaper, stop asking them to manage your pet waste stations. Let them do what they do best—make your property look great. And bring in a partner who specializes in the dirty work.

Your landscaper will thank you.

Your residents will thank you.

And you’ll thank yourself for one less thing to worry about.

CoPS on Doody provides professional pet waste station service, common area cleanings, and sustainable supplies for community associations in Northern Virginia, Washington DC, suburban Maryland, and Atlanta.

We bring the bags. We do the dirty work. And we never miss the details.

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