Volunteers frustrated by 'appalling' dog poo bags left on Adelaide trails

Volunteers in Adelaide are growing frustrated with the prevalence of dog feces left on hiking trails, often in plastic bags. These bags, which resemble festive baubles, are frequently left by owners who find it inconvenient to carry the waste back home. Keep South Australia Beautiful chief Wendy Bevan emphasized the importance of dog owners bringing their own bags and disposing of waste responsibly.

If a bin is unavailable, she suggested taking the bag home or attaching it to a dog’s lead. Despite bags today being compostable, they must be placed in green bins, as leaving them on the ground negates their environmental benefits. The Department for Environment and Water classified discarding dog waste in national parks as littering, with offenders facing fines and penalties.

Community engagement officer Ron Bellchambers noted a surge in bag littering during COVID-19 restrictions, when more people were outdoors. Some people were even hiding bags in hollow logs or tree guards, as if they were garbage bins. While most dog walkers appear to be picking up after their pets, a significant number still leave the bags behind, causing inconvenience for volunteers and damage to vegetation.

Bellchambers stressed the importance of proper disposal, highlighting the frustration of volunteers who accidentally get covered in feces while clearing trails, and the presence of young school volunteers who should not have to deal with this issue.