The Pilot Compost Project

The saga of the dog waste compost project is long and convoluted.

In the beginning, was a word and the word was "live and let live" (but clean up after yourselves). The responsible dog walkers all agreed and held clean up days and educational outreach in order to ensure that no poop be left behind. And it was done.

It was done so well that an informal agreement was reached with NYS State Parks that the dog walking group would supply dog waste clean up bags (Courtesy of Wegmans - a truckload of bags that still serves us), that the dog walkers would clean up after themselves and any other park users, and that NYS Parks would supply a dumpster for disposal.

This arrangement worked so well for so many years that then NYS Parks Regional Manager Jack Clancy noted how clear the area had become. This clearly beneficial arrangement was ended by NYS Parks when they removed their dog waste dumpster and stopped mowing the Festival Lands. This was apparently done in response to Common Council's decision to rescind the leash law at a portion of the Festival Lands. Unfortunately, lots of long standing non-dog-related inter-governmental issues were at play here.

The net result being that the entire area was declared to be a "Carry-In Carry-Out" area, making a mockery of all of our efforts, and creating the only legal dog park in America where dog owners were expected to carry their dog's waste home with them.

But let us get back to the Compost Project. Regardless of how, when, or where, it is generated; plastic bags full of dog shit are not environmentally friendly. TCDOG, in cooperation with Cayuga Compost, decided to undertake a "Pilot Project" to determine if dog waste, collected in compostable bags, and deposited in clearly marked containers could be turned into a environmentally positive asset - fertilizer. Together, we researched the costs of biodegradeable bags, the likely volume generated at the park and the logistics of collecting sufficient volume. We reached an agreement that was acceptable. The dollar costs of composting were probably cheaper than garbage disposal and waste removal.

TCDOG raised the money necessary to begin the work. We were at a meeting with the Ithaca City Depatment of Public Works to finalize an agreement with TCDOG, the City, and Cayuga Compost when we received word that the Mayor had determined that the temporary Dog Park should not be renewed.
The Dog Waste Compost Project has been in hiatus ever since, pending final resolutions of exactly where our dogs are allowed off-leash.
If you want to participate in events planning or to hear about our plans for legalization, please Join TCDOG .

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