Are Biodegradable Poop Bags Really Biodegradable?

The short answer is: Not always, and rarely in the way most consumers think.

While the packaging might feature green leaves and promises of disappearing waste, the reality is much more complicated. Most “biodegradable” bags need very specific conditions—like high heat and oxygen found in industrial facilities—to break down. When they end up in a standard landfill, which is where most dog waste goes, they often remain intact for years or release harmful gases.

Hi, I’m Jessica, the founder of Bestone. With over 16 years of experience in the pet product manufacturing industry, specializing in OEM and ODM services, I have seen the science behind the bags. From sourcing raw materials for dog harnesses to testing biodegradable polymers, I know what actually goes into these products.

Many pet owners feel a false sense of environmental responsibility when they buy these bags. They believe they are helping the planet, but without the right disposal method, the impact might be negligible. Today, I want to pull back the curtain on green marketing so you can make informed choices.

Quick Comparison: What Really Happens to Your Bag?

Before we dive deep, here is a snapshot of the differences between the types of bags available on the market. This table is essential for understanding why labels can be misleading.

Biodegradable vs. Compostable: What Is the Actual Difference?

One of the most confusing parts of shopping for eco-friendly sustainable pet supplies is the terminology. The words “biodegradable” and “compostable” are often used interchangeably, but they mean very different things in the world of manufacturing.

Defining Biodegradable

Technically, almost everything is biodegradable if you wait long enough. The term “biodegradable” simply implies that a material will eventually break down into smaller pieces. However, it does not specify a timeframe. A biodegradable bag could take two months to break down, or it could take 200 years. Furthermore, without strict regulations, many “biodegradable” bags are just regular plastic loaded with chemicals that cause them to shatter into tiny, invisible pieces called microplastics. This is not disappearing; it is just becoming harder to see.

Defining Compostable

Compostable is a much stricter standard. For a bag to be labeled compostable, it must meet rigorous international standards like ASTM D6400 (in the USA) or EN 13432 (in Europe). These standards require that the product breaks down into organic matter (humus), CO2, and water within a specific timeframe—usually 90% breakdown within 180 days. However, there is a catch: this testing is done in controlled laboratory environments that mimic industrial composting facilities, not the side of a hiking trail or a backyard dirt pile.

The Trap: It is crucial to remember that while all compostable bags are biodegradable, not all biodegradable bags are compostable. If a bag claims to be biodegradable but lacks a certification logo like the BPI or seedling mark, it likely does not meet the criteria for safe decomposition.

The Landfill Problem: Why “Eco-Friendly” Bags Fail

You might be thinking, “I’ll just buy the compostable bag and throw it in the trash bin. That’s better than plastic, right?” Unfortunately, this is where good intentions meet a harsh reality. Statistics show that while about 60% of dog owners pick up their pet’s waste, the vast majority of those bags go straight into the general trash can.

The Reality of Anaerobic Conditions

Modern landfills are engineering marvels designed for one purpose: to store waste safely by preventing contamination of the surrounding environment. To do this, trash is tightly compacted and covered with soil or plastic liners. This creates an anaerobic environment, meaning there is no oxygen. Oxygen is the key ingredient required for biodegradable materials to break down effectively.

Without oxygen, a biodegradable poop bag essentially becomes “mummified.” Researchers have dug up newspapers from landfills that are 50 years old and still readable. Your “eco-friendly” poop bag faces the same fate. It sits there, preserved among the other trash, unable to return to the earth as intended.

The Methane Issue

It actually gets worse. If biodegradable materials do manage to break down in an oxygen-free landfill (a process called anaerobic digestion), they release methane gas. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that is approximately 25 times more effective at trapping heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide. In this scenario, using a biodegradable bag that releases methane might actually be worse for climate change than using a standard plastic bag that remains stable and inert.

Therefore, the key takeaway is simple but uncomfortable: A biodegradable bag thrown in a landfill acts just like a plastic one, but with a higher price tag and potentially higher emissions.

The Hidden Environmental Costs

Beyond the landfill issue, there are other hidden costs to the widespread use of biodegradable plastics that manufacturers often don’t discuss. As we explore 10 key things about biodegradable poop bags, we find issues with microplastics and infrastructure.

The Microplastic Threat

When biodegradable bags break down imperfectly, they often fragment. This process is called fragmentation. The bag doesn’t turn into soil; it turns into millions of microscopic plastic particles. These microplastics can linger in the environment for centuries.

Some compostable materials, such as PBAT (a common ingredient in bioplastics), have been shown to bind with pollutants in the soil. When these microplastics enter waterways or agricultural land, they can carry these toxins with them. Shockingly, studies have found microplastics even in the “finished” compost produced by some industrial facilities, proving that the bags didn’t fully disappear even under “ideal” conditions.

The Infrastructure Gap

This is the “Hard Truth” of the industry. Certification labels like “compostable” imply that you can compost them. But where? In the United States and the United Kingdom, there are virtually no industrial composting facilities that accept dog waste. Even facilities that accept compostable food packaging will typically reject pet waste due to health concerns regarding pathogens and parasites.

In fact, the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI), a leading certifier, has previously halted certification for certain pet waste bags simply because there were no facilities to process them. This leaves consumers paying a premium for a feature they physically cannot use.

Decomposition Timelines: What Are You Really Buying?

If you are sourcing products for your brand or buying for your dog, you need to know the materials. Different bioplastics behave differently. Here is a breakdown of the materials we often see in the pet product manufacturing supply chain:

1. PLA (Polylactic Acid)

Derived from renewable resources like cornstarch or sugarcane. In a high-heat industrial facility (over 140°F), PLA can break down in 180 to 360 days. However, in the ocean or a cold landfill, it behaves almost exactly like conventional plastic.

2. PBAT (Polybutylene Adipate Terephthalate)

This is a biodegradable polymer that is actually fossil-fuel based but engineered to break down. It makes the bags flexible (unlike pure PLA which is brittle). It typically degrades in 90-120 days in industrial compost. But again, this timeline assumes perfect conditions.

3. Starch Blends

These are often cheaper and break down faster, sometimes in 60-90 days. However, they are often less durable, leading to the dreaded “finger-through-the-bag” accident that every dog owner fears.

The Reality Check: All these timelines are theoretical. Once placed in a landfill, reset the clock to “years or centuries.”

Better Alternatives: What Experts Actually Recommend

So, if landfills are bad for biodegradable bags, and composting facilities don’t accept them, what is the solution? Experts are shifting the conversation from “perfect disposal” to “harm reduction.”

1. Recycled Post-Consumer Plastic (Bestone Recommendation)

This is often the most honest choice. Bags made from 90% to 100% recycled post-consumer plastic (PCR) are excellent. Why? Because they give a second life to plastic that already exists, keeping it out of the ocean. They have a lower carbon footprint than creating new “virgin” plastic, and when they go to a landfill, they remain stable and don’t release methane. For many of our clients at Bestone, we recommend high-quality recycled materials for their dog accessories and waste bags.

2. Pet Waste Digesters

For homeowners with a yard, a pet waste digester is a dedicated system installed in the ground. It works like a mini septic tank. You add water and enzymes, and the waste breaks down safely into the soil. This is currently the only effective way to “compost” poop at home, as standard compost piles do not get hot enough to kill dangerous bacteria.

3. Flushable Bags (Septic Systems Only)

Some bags are made of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and dissolve in water. These can be flushed, but only if you have a private septic system approved for it. Municipal sewer systems often advise against this, as the dissolved “goo” can contribute to fatbergs and blockages in city pipes.

Industry Insight: The Market vs. The Environment

Despite the flaws in the “biodegradable” promise, the market is booming. The demand for green products is undeniable.

This growth is driven by consumer awareness. People want to do the right thing. However, as a manufacturer, Bestone’s stance is about transparency. We offer customization to meet this massive market demand—we can produce biodegradable options if that is what your brand requires. But we prioritize educating our B2B clients. We believe the future lies in honest materials, like certified recycled plastics, that align with the actual infrastructure available to consumers today.

“Innovations like PHA-based home compostable bags that degrade in soil, freshwater, and marine environments without microplastics… are shifting brand and procurement focus toward third-party-verified materials and performance.” — Grandview Research, Compostable & Biodegradable Refuse Bags Market Report 2024

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are common questions we hear from our partners and customers regarding waste disposal.

Can I put compostable poop bags in my garden compost?

No. You should generally avoid putting dog or cat waste in your vegetable or garden compost. Carnivore waste contains pathogens like E. coli and Salmonella. Typical backyard compost bins do not generate enough heat (sustained 140°F+) to kill these pathogens safely.

Do biodegradable bags break down in the ocean?

Generally, no. Most “biodegradable” plastics will not break down in marine environments because the water is too cold. They act just like regular plastic, posing a choking hazard to marine life. Only products specifically certified as “Marine Degradable” (which are rare and expensive) will break down safely in water.

Is it better to just flick the poop into the bushes?

Definitely not. Leaving waste on the ground—often called the “stick and flick” method—is bad for the local ecosystem. Dog waste is high in nitrogen and phosphorus, which can burn native plants and cause algae blooms in nearby waterways. It also introduces foreign bacteria into wildlife habitats.

Conclusion

The term “biodegradable” is often a marketing tool that, unfortunately, fails to deliver on its promise in real-world landfill conditions. While the technology is improving, the infrastructure simply isn’t there yet to support the massive volume of compostable bags being sold.

For brands and retailers, the most responsible path forward is honesty. Providing high-quality bags made from recycled post-consumer materials is a powerful way to reduce environmental impact without making misleading claims about decomposition.

Are you looking to launch a pet product line that stands for quality and integrity? At Bestone, we help brands navigate these complex choices. Whether you are looking for custom manufacturing of durable harnesses, eco-friendly leashes, or honest waste solutions, we have the expertise to bring your vision to life.

Partner with Bestone Today

References & External Resources

For further reading on this topic, please refer to the following sources:

• Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Green Guides
• ASTM International Standards (D6400)
• Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI)
• EPA Guidelines on Composting