EVERETT, Wash. — The next time you clean up after your furry friend, health officials in Snohomish County want you to remember something - scoop it, bag it and put it in the trash.
Despite good intentions, when it comes to biodegradable bags designed for pet waste, most never decompose in the compost.
"Even if you have a biodegradable bag, we still want you to put it in the trash," said Valerie Normand, spokesperson for the Snohomish County Surface Water Management Division.
Normand says leaving pet waste anywhere else can threaten to contaminate local waterways and animals with harmful pathogens.
The county now has a webpage devoted to educating the public on proper disposal.
Area health officials discourage putting pet waste in yard-waste bins or compost piles, because they simply aren’t hot enough to kill off any harmful bacteria.
"Until we have a better solution, the trash is the best way to prevent it from contaminating our soil," Normand said.