Coromandel Peninsula moves to fully eco-friendly doggy bags
Dog owners walking their pets on Thames-Coromandel paths and walkways with dispensers will now be given 100 per cent biodegradable doggy bags.
The new type of plastic bag converts to water, inert chemicals and biomass in the presence of soil, micro-organisms, moisture and oxygen.
TCDC Parks and Reserves Team Manager, Derek Thompson, says the new bags are designed to degrade within 18 months of the date they are manufactured. "Compared with other choices that take decades to degrade, the new doggie bags use a degradable plastic additive (TDPA) to make them biodegrade in landfill within a few months," he said.
This latest move to 100 per cent biodegradable bags is part of Council's continued focus on the environment. Previously, bagged dog droppings disposed of in rubbish bins were placed in landfills to remain in plastic bundles.
Public dispensers provide small bags for responsible dog owners to collect dog droppings along walkways in Thames, Whitianga and Onemana where dog droppings are deemed a health risk.
Dog owners must comply with the Dog Control Bylaw requirement to remove dog droppings immediately.
