處理貓砂最環(huán)保的方法是什么?

處理貓砂最環(huán)保的方法是什么?

There are multiple green and eco-friendly ways to dispose of cat litter, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Because of the wide variety of cat litters, the different wastewater treatment and sewer systems in each municipality, and the difficulty in composting cat waste, there isn’t one solution that will work for everyone.

有多種綠色環(huán)保的方式來處理貓砂，每一種都有其優(yōu)點和缺點。由于貓糞種類繁多，每個城市的廢水處理和下水道系統(tǒng)各不相同，以及對貓糞進行堆肥的難度，因此并沒有一種適用于所有人的解決方案。

graphixel / Getty Images

You’ll first need to research what kind of litter will work best for you and your fluffy friend. Litter these days is made out of a wide range of materials, from potentially toxic to all-natural materials. You’ll then have to decide how you want to dispose of the litter. (Flushing it down your toilet is not a safe or responsible option.)

首先，你需要研究什么樣的貓砂最適合你和你毛茸茸的朋友。如今貓砂由各種各樣的材料制成，從潛在的有毒材料到純天然材料。然后你要決定如何處理這些貓砂。(把它沖進馬桶不是一個安全或負責任的選擇。)

Cat waste is different from dog waste. If not properly disposed of, cat waste has the potential to be hazardous to your health and the environment. Being a green pet owner isn’t always easy, but it’s important to be aware of every option and purchase in order to make the most sustainable decision.

貓的糞便不同于狗的糞便。如果不妥善處理，貓的排泄物有可能對你的健康和環(huán)境造成危害。成為一個綠色寵物的主人并不容易，但是為了做出最可持續(xù)的決定，了解每一個選擇和購買是很重要的。

Biodegradable Litter

可降解垃圾

Choose a kitty litter made of natural materials. Look for ingredients such as recycled compressed paper, wood shavings, corn, grass seed, pine, wheat, and sawdust. Most biodegradable cat litters are made of various plant-based products and can be more expensive than grocery store litter. Keep in mind that many of those mainstream cat litters contain silica dust, which can cause upper respiratory infections in both cats and humans. Also, avoid litters that contain sodium bentonite (clay) or fragrances. These materials are harmful to both cats and the environment, due to their extraction methods and use of chemicals.

選擇由天然材料制成的貓砂。尋找材料，如回收的壓縮紙，木屑，玉米，草籽，松樹，小麥和鋸末。大多數(shù)可生物降解的貓砂是由各種植物制品制成的，比雜貨店的貓砂還要貴。請記住，許多主流貓窩都含有二氧化硅粉塵，會導致貓和人上呼吸道感染。同時，避免含有鈉膨潤土(粘土)或香料的貓砂。這些物質對貓和環(huán)境都是有害的，因為它們的提取方法和化學物質的使用。

Biodegradable Bags

可降解塑料袋

The easiest and most common method to dispose of cat waste is to scoop it out of the box, tightly seal it in a bag, and toss it in the trash. A biodegradable bag designed for cat litter may seem like a great option. However, these kinds of bags, allegedly designed to compost more quickly, have very mixed results.

處理貓糞最簡單、最常見的方法是從盒子里舀出來，緊緊地封在袋子里，然后扔進垃圾桶。為貓砂設計的可生物降解袋似乎是個不錯的選擇。然而，這些據(jù)稱是為了更快地堆肥而設計的袋子，卻產生了非常復雜的結果。

If you must contain the waste in a bag before you add it to your trash bin, opt to use a brown paper bag. These take less time to break down than a plastic bag or even current biodegradable bags on the market.

如果你必須把貓砂裝在袋子里，然后才把它放進垃圾桶，選擇用棕色紙袋。這比一個塑料袋或市場上目前的可生物降解的塑料袋需要更少的時間來分解。

Why You Shouldn’t Flush Cat Litter

為什么你不應該沖走貓砂

Flushing cat litter and waste down the toilet is risky and potentially harmful to the environment. For starters, cat waste can clog your pipes, contaminate drinking water, and hurt ecosystems. Even if it’s advertised as “flushable litter,” it might not be safe for your pipe system. Some litters aren’t designed for septic systems, let alone the fact that many septic systems can’t break down certain materials like cat waste, no matter what litter you use.

把貓砂和排泄物沖進廁所是有風險的，而且可能對環(huán)境有害。首先，貓的糞便會堵塞管道，污染飲用水，破壞生態(tài)系統(tǒng)。即使它被宣傳為“可沖洗垃圾”，它可能對你的管道系統(tǒng)不安全。有些貓砂不是為化糞池系統(tǒng)設計的，更不用說許多化糞池系統(tǒng)不能分解某些物質，比如貓的糞便，無論你使用的是什么貓砂。

How to Safely Compost Cat Litter

如何安全地堆肥貓砂

Some cat people claim composting cat poop is possible, but this can also be dangerous to human health and the environment. If you plan on using compost on or near any edible gardens, avoid using any pet waste. Compost made of pet waste is to be used only on lawns or non-edible crops (like a rose garden or perennials).

一些養(yǎng)貓的人聲稱將貓的糞便制成堆肥是可行的，但這也可能對人類健康和環(huán)境造成危害。如果你打算在任何可食用的花園上或附近使用堆肥，避免使用任何寵物貓砂。由寵物糞便制成的堆肥只能用于草坪或不可食用的作物(如玫瑰園或多年生植物)。

Cat Diet and Sustainable Litter Boxes

貓糧和可持續(xù)的貓砂盒

Most cat litter boxes are made from plastic, which is a fossil fuel byproduct that Treehugger highly discourages purchasing brand new. Consider upcycling a plastic tub that would otherwise get tossed in the trash, or pick one up at your local thrift store. If you want to make an investment in a long-lasting option that won’t absorb odors, consider a (used) stainless steel steam pan.

大多數(shù)貓砂盒都是用塑料做的，而塑料是化石燃料的副產品，“抱樹者”強烈反對購買全新的。考慮升級一個塑料浴缸，否則就會被扔進垃圾桶，或者在當?shù)氐呐f貨店買一個。如果你想在一個不吸收異味的長期選擇上投資，考慮一個(用過的)不銹鋼蒸汽鍋。

While it’s true that our pets’ environmental footprint is bigger than we’d like to think, researching every option and making informed purchasing decisions will help you and your Fluffy live a more sustainable life.

雖然寵物對環(huán)境的影響比我們想象的要大得多，但研究每一個選擇，做出明智的購買決定，將有助于你和你的寵物過上更可持續(xù)的生活。