The (Pooper)Scoop

You can flush it, you can compost it, you can leave it on the ground until someone steps in it, or, like many of us, you can use the plastic bag your newspaper came in to scoop it up and toss it in the trash.

Unfortunately, that plastic bag is not biodegradable, so it's not going anywhere anytime soon.

These musings on dog poop -- and the prevalence of biodegradable poop bags in dog parks around Berkeley -- has started my extremely grass-roots campaign to get my daily paper (which claims to publish "all the news that's fit to print") to switch to biodegradable newspaper bags, a trend that's already begun with grocery bags in San Francisco.

I've also, as it happens, found a biodegradable bag company that I find most agreeable and that adheres to California's strict rules on what constitutes biodegradability. Biobags -- available in many San Francisco markets and hardware stores as well as online -- are made from corn, and have the feel of finely-woven gortex. Plus, they include instructions on how to pick up ("Plocka upp") and dispose ("Gool de zak in de vuilnisbak") of dog waste in seven languages right on the bag!

Still, why not take a moment to drop your local newspaper a note, encouraging them to switch to biodegradable baggies? Here's the email I sent the New York Times:

As a daily subscriber to the paper edition of your fine newspaper, I enjoy your cutting-edge reporting on issues that matter to me. I also, like many dog owners, enjoy using the bag your newspaper comes in to dispose of my pet's waste, as I find it's the perfect size for such a task. It seems, however, that given the interest your excellent periodical shows for environmental issues, and the general worrisome state of our environment, it's time to consider delivering your newspaper in biodegradable bags. Environmentally-conscious dog owners (and litter-box cleaners!) would thank you for such a forward-thinking action, and you might even gain subscribers who admire your tenacity in saving the planet.

Best wishes,
A concerned, informed and green dog owner

Please copy this email, edit it, add your name and send it to your local paper (or grocery store).