Pet owners approve of puppy poop power pilot project in Waterloo

A new pilot project in Waterloo that will convert dog waste into energy is a great idea, dog owners says.

CBC K-W spoke with people walking their dogs in north Waterloo Monday and dog owners at the leash-free area of Bechtel Park to get their take on the project.

• Waterloo to turn dog poop into power, through new pilot program
• The scoop on how Waterloo's 'poop power' system will work
• Here are the Waterloo parks that will have dog waste recycling

Most dog owners were unaware of the reason for the new green dog waste receptacles at three parks – Bechtel Park, Lakeshore Optimist Park and St. Moritz Park.

But all agreed putting their dog's waste to good use is a better option than throwing it in the landfill.

Reggie's owner, Gill

"I think anything that you can turn into energy is a good thing," said Gill, while pushing his daughter in a stroller and walking Reggie in north Waterloo.

Getting to the three parks could be a challenge though: "When you have a kid and you have a dog, you walk the dog whenever you want to take the kid for a walk." If there were regional deposits, or roadside pickup from a brown bin, that would be nice, but maybe not feasible, he said.

"Unless you magically had a van that ran on dog poop and containers made from the recycled bags from dog poop."

Charlie's owner, Aaron

"It doesn't seem to be an eyesore of any kind or a nuisance," he said, after stopping to stoop and scoop, after Charlie did his business in north Waterloo.

If it's a viable way to create energy, Aaron said, "any initiative or idea at the grassroots level or the startup of it is worth trying. I think it's a good idea."

Hilton's owner, Melissa

Some people don't pick it up, but they might if they knew it could go to help create power, she siad.

"Every time I go to the park, you see hundreds of people walking their dogs," she said, as she strolled a tree-lined street with her dog. "I think it would be convenient to have them there or anywhere that people commonly walk their dog."

Forest and Luna's owner, Kelly

"I actually think it's a fantastic idea. It might as well be getting used as something other than just filling landfills or laying on the ground or sidewalk if people don't pick up after them, so using it I think is actually a great idea," she said as the two Dobermans sniffed other dogs at the Bechtel dog park.

She added it would be great if the pilot project gets expanded to see the receptacles along community trails.

"When we pick up after our dogs, we take it home, it just goes into the garbage. But having stations along the community trails, too, I think would be an excellent option and it keeps our trails clean at the same time."

Cooper's owner, Taylor

"I think it's a good alternative. It's waste going to waste anyway, so if you can produce something out of it, why not," Taylor said as Cooper, a Chihuahua terrier, played in the dog park.

Cooper is a small dog, just 12 pounds, so he "is not doing his part" to help with the project, Taylor joked.