Stroud's Scooper Heroes!

Aim

The aim of the project is to research whether dog waste can be safely sanitised and composted for food growing.

Our Mission!

We're launching the UK's first community-scale composting trial to sanitise dog waste for food growing, proving that poo actually does have purpose and could be part of a sustainable, circular solution.

This innovative pilot project in Stroud aims to tackle the persistent issue of dog waste by transforming it into a valuable resource through composting. Current guidance states it can't be safely composted, but new research suggests otherwise.  This project will test whether dog waste can be sanitised safely under UK climatic conditions. We'll run a series of controlled trials to investigate this and different treatment paths. 

How it all began

It all began when I stumbled across a shocking grot spot on a rural lane - more than 350 bags of dog waste dumped in the hedgerows. I picked up every bag, took them home, counted and weighed them to understand the scale of the problem. Over the next six months, I worked with the local council to try and tackle the issue through extra patrols and signage, but nothing made a difference. 

In September 2025, I installed a makeshift dog waste bin myself and have emptied it twice a month ever since, feeding the contents into my experimental wormery system. What started as one person tackling a local problem has now grown into plans for the UK’s first community-scale dog poo composting research project.

What We’ll Do

• Build and run both household and community-scale composting trials.
• Test dog waste compost at different stages for pathogens, parasites and antibiotic resistant genes. 
• Understand how the UK climate impacts on composting maturing times.
• Identify when compost becomes safe to use. 
• Share results publicly to inform UK policy.  

Supporters!

The project is supported by expertise from the University of Gloucestershire, Garden Organic, Pet Impact, The National Trust, Dog Friendly Magazine and Play School for Dogs, ensuring strong scientific backing, safe delivery and credibility. 

Can You Compost Dog Poop? One Councillor's 750-Bag Experiment - Compost Magazine

What we'll deliver

• A real world trial showing how dog waste composts over time in UK conditions.
• A reputable composting model that other communities and councils can adopt.
• Independent laboratory test results tracking pathogens, parasites and anti-biotic resistance.
• Ground breaking applied research.
• A published final report with evidence and recommendations.
• A working demonstration of how dog waste can be managed sustainably at a local level.
• Increased community pride and volunteer engagement.
• Simple, practical guidance for safe dog waste composting.

Why it's a great idea!

An estimated 1,000 tonnes of dog poo is produced every day, releasing 50,000 tonnes of methane every year. Over 35 million dog poo bags are used daily in the UK alone.

 By developing a safe composting method, we can:  

• Reduce reliance on landfill and incineration. 
• Prevent plastic pollution. 
• Minimise littered dog poo bags. 
• Lower methane emissions. 
• Encourage responsible disposal of dog waste. 
• Improve public spaces. 
• Support behaviour change.
• Promote reuse and the circular economy. 
• Bring communities together - anyone can take part! 
• Pioneer new research.
• Replicate learning. 
• Transform a pollutant into a valuable resource. 
• Advocate for national legislation change.  
• Reshape how the UK manages dog waste. 
• Together supporting cleaner, greener and more sustainable communities. 
• Lead sustainable waste innovation and community-led climate action. 
• Create safer, cleaner public spaces.

How Your Support Will Help

Your contributions will directly fund the scientific testing needed to determine whether dog waste can be safely composted in UK community systems.

Funding will support:

• Funding will cover specialist laboratory testing to determine when composted dog waste becomes biologically safe for reuse. This includes testing for harmful pathogens such as E. coli, Salmonella, Campylobacter, and Toxocara parasites.
• The project also requires advanced analysis of antimicrobial resistance genes and antibiotic-resistant bacteria, helping assess wider public health implications linked to dog waste disposal.
• Crowdfunding support will pay for chemical testing of anti-parasitic veterinary treatments, including flea, tick, and worming products, to understand how these compounds break down during composting.
• Contributions will support the collection, handling, and scientific analysis of compost samples throughout the trial, enabling researchers to track how microbial activity and safety change over time.
• The project will require composting bins, temperature monitoring equipment, thermometers, sampling materials, protective equipment, signage, storage containers and other essential tools required to monitor and manage the composting process over time.
• Funding will directly enable the evidence needed to inform future UK policy on safe, sustainable dog waste composting systems.

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 20th October 2026 at 12:00pm