Buffalo Zoo Converts Excess Animal Poop to Robust Compost

Buffalo Zoo's excess animal waste is being turned into a sturdy kind of compost.

Growing collaboration between the Buffalo Zoo and a nearby business could make local gardens flourish this spring and summer.

Tons of animal waste are being transformed into something much more useful.

Excess Animal Poop to Compost Zoo Poo

It is known as Zoo Poo and while the name may be a little cheeky, it benefits both the zoo as well as the environment.

Alistair Holden, the Buffalo River Compost organics manager, said that every day and every week, the zoo has extra manure that would otherwise be disposed of in a landfill or recycled elsewhere. Holden pointed out that both parties need the structured collaboration. The zoo needs to remove waste from its property, and the nearby business has a market for turning waste into a resource for the neighborhood.

They only take waste from animals that consume plants, like bison, zebras, and rhinos.

Several times per week, the zoo transports one or two tons of manure and also animal bedding, such as straw, to Buffalo River Compost. There, crews take control and are in charge of rotating piles, keeping an eye on temperature and moisture levels, and measuring nitrogen and carbon ratios.

After nine to 12 months, the pile of raw materials transforms into nutrient-rich compost that is prepared to be wrapped and sold for use in gardens as nature and science do their thing. Microbes break everything down.

Buffalo Zoo Nutrient-Rich Diets

Lisa Smith, the CEO of Buffalo Zoo, who is also its interim president, explained that Zoo animal waste is ideal for composting because it is packed with nutrients that were once fed to the animals, but occasionally those nutrients are no longer needed by the animals, leaving the waste behind.

Only a few zoos in the nation have a partnership like this, and the Buffalo Zoo is one of them.

Smith claimed that the whole setup is in everyone's favor. Numerous materials that can be used in another way are available for the local composting company on the property. It is environmentally friendly and makes for good compost that the community can use.

Some people are curious as to whether the finished compost will still smell like it did at the beginning. The answer is that it has an earthy scent rather than a strong one.

Several garden centers in Western New York sell Zoo Poo, WGRZ reports.

Also Read: Gardening: What is Deadheading and Why Should We Do It?

Composting Animal Poop at Home

According to a fact sheet published by the USDA, compost made from dog waste can be added to soil to help with planting beds, lawn establishment, and revegetation. It shouldn't be applied to crops that are grown for human consumption. A 25% compost blend is suggested for use in potting soil or flowerbeds. Because of its relatively high salinity, compost is not advised for seedling germination.

However, Compost Community also raised several concerns about composting pet poop. Keep cat poop out of the environment as it can contain toxoplasmosis, which can result in birth defects.

It's also crucial to keep in mind that compost worms can be killed by pet waste that has been wormed.