• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to after header navigation
  • Skip to site footer
The Greenway Foundation

The Greenway Foundation

Revitalizing Rivers. Reconnecting Communities.

  • About Us
    • Our History
    • Our Team
    • Employment
    • Blog
    • Annual Report
    • Contact Us
  • SPREE
    • Elementary
      • Field Trips
        • Preschool SPREE Field Trip
        • Kindergarten SPREE Field Trip
        • First Grade SPREE Field Trip
        • Second Grade SPREE Field Trip
        • Third Grade SPREE Field Trip
        • Fourth Grade SPREE Field Trip
        • Fifth Grade SPREE Field Trip
      • Camps
        • Summer Camp
        • School Break Camp
    • Middle School
      • Leaders In Training
    • High School
      • River Rangers
      • Greenway Leadership Corps
    • Families
      • Family Events
      • Camps
        • Summer Camp
        • School Break Camp
      • Just for Kids
  • Stewardship
    • Clean Water Challenge
    • Nautilus
    • Gutter Bins
    • Volunteer
  • Projects
  • Events
    • Calendar
    • Family Events
    • Stewardship Events
    • CROSSCURRENTS
    • Reception on the River
    • Gala on the Bridge
  • Give
  • SPREE
  • Elementary
    • Field Trips
      • Preschool (ECE)
      • Kindergarten
      • First Grade
      • Second Grade
      • Third Grade
      • Fourth Grade
      • Fifth Grade
      • Field Trip Signup
      • Field Trip Feedback
    • Camps
      • Summer Camp
      • School Break Camp
    • Scholarships
  • Middle School
    • Leaders In Training
  • High School
    • River Rangers
    • Greenway Leadership Corps
  • Families
    • Family Events
    • Camps
      • Summer Camp
      • School Break Camp
    • Just for Kids
    • Scholarships

DIY Dog Bag Holder

Picture

Did you know that there are more dogs in Denver than kids? There are approximately 161,000 dogs in Denver and more than 1.4 million statewide! With each dog producing around 12 ounces of waste a day, that’s 274 pounds of waste per dog a year in Dever. We all love our furry friends but one of the biggest pollutants in our parks and neighborhoods is dog waste. Usually, people are responsible and pick up after their dogs, but sometimes it doesn’t happen. It might not seem like a river pollutant, but animal waste can add up to big problems for water quality, and even human health. Animal waste contains two main types of pollutants that harm local waters: nutrients and pathogens. When this waste ends up in water bodies, it decomposes, releasing nutrients that cause excessive growth of algae and weeds. This excessive growth causes low oxygen levels in the water that can kill fish and other aquatic life. It also makes the water murky, green, smelly, and even unusable for swimming, boating, or fishing. The pathogens, disease causing bacteria and viruses, can also make local waters unswimmable and unfishable, and have caused severe illness in humans. Pathogens can be spread to other pets and humans including: salmonella, giardia, parvovirus, and others. Denver Park and Recreation have a series of Park Rules and Regulations. The first two rules listed are: 

  1. Dogs and pets must be on a leash and under physical control at all times.
  2. Pet waste must be picked up and disposed of properly.

Denver Park and Recreation recognizes the importance of disposing of pet waste properly. You can even order FREE pet waste bags from their website.


Picture

So how can WE help?? We can create a craft for the whole family to enjoy, homemade animal waste bag containers! The idea is that if we leave bags for other people, it will give them the resources they need to clean up after their pet. How do we create these containers? It’s easy!

Materials Needed: 

  • Drink jugs
  • Tape, glue
  • Scissors, exacto knife (adults only)
  • Zip ties or string
  • Paper
  • Markers / crayons / pencils
  • Packing tape

​Step 1: Cut a hole into one side of the container. Make sure to cut the hole in the bottle small enough that rain will not soak the bags, wind will not blow the bags out and it is difficult for someone to deposit a full bag

Picture

Step 2: Make four zip tie or string holes on the opposite side of the bottle from the cut-out, two at the top corners and two at the bottom corners

Step 3: Insert zip tie or string into one hole. Repeat with the second zip tie/string holder.

Picture

Step 1

Picture

Step 3

Picture

Step 4

Step 4: Place a note about how the community poop bag share station works on the poop bag dispenser and cover with clear packing tape
​
Step 5: Fasten your poop bag dispenser to an *approved place* in your neighborhood or park!
Sources:

  • Donny Roush, City & County of Denver’s Department of Transportation & Infrastructure
  • https://cfpub.epa.gov/npstbx/files/Pet%20Care%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf
  • https://www.denvergov.org/content/denvergov/en/wastewater-management/keep-it-clean.html
  • https://denverite.com/2019/12/16/denver-has-more-dogs-than-children-and-everything-else-we-learned-about-denvers-dog-parks/
  • https://www.cascadiannomads.com/pet-adventure-blog/make-a-community-poop-bag-share-station-help-neighbors-remember-to-scoopthatpoop
  • https://www.flickr.com/photos/jganderson/3417156790
Published: April 20, 2020
Category: SPREETag: Animals, Craft
The Greenway Foundation

About The Greenway Foundation

The Greenway Foundation is a Denver-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Since 1974, we have been leading efforts to reclaim the South Platte River and its tributaries from a virtual cesspool to a place of environmental and recreational pride. Learn More

Previous Post:Can the 2020 Census Impact our Green Spaces and Local Waterways?
Next Post:Honey Bees

Sidebar

Current News

February GLC:Snowshoeing and outdoor skills

In February GLC partnered with Boulder county open space to learn more about survival in the outdoors. We then took a beautiful hike in our snowshoes and learned all about …

More Blog Posts

Mayoral Candidates on the Future of Denver’s Urban Waterways

2022 RECAP: River Rangers

January GLC: Youth Career Exploration Day!

2022 RECAP- The Greenway Leadership Corps (GLC)

Blog Categories

Blog Archive

  • 2023
  • 2022
  • 2021
  • 2020
  • 2019
  • 2018
  • 2017
  • 2016
  • 2015
  • 2014

The Greenway Foundation

1820 Platte Street, Denver, CO 80202

info@greenwayfoundation.org

303.481.1974

FEIN: 51-0193575

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • Vimeo
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
1% for the Planet Nonprofit Partner
About Us
SPREE
Stewardship
Projects
Events
DONATE TODAY
SIGN UP FOR OUR EMAIL LIST
CONTACT US

Copyright © 2023 · The Greenway Foundation · All Rights Reserved