Earth Rated Dog Poop Bags, Refill Rolls, Lavender Scented, 120 count

We like to be eco-minded in our household, looking for any easy ways to be conscious about waste and the major plastics problem our society contributes to. We like that these bags are more eco-friendly, the carton is cardboard (recyclable/decomposable), and they come with cardboard rolls instead of plastic (recyclable/decomposable). Bonus is the sticker that holds the rolls together is easy to remove to open bags! Not sure if the sticker is also eco-friendly, but that would be a bonus if it were. NOTE: The picture was taken to share with my spouse that our dog had a good poo after a series of nasty dumps. Just so happens that I am being asked for a review of poo bags and this picture was available. I am not a weirdo who uses a poo bag review as a reason to take a picture smiling with a bag of feces dangling in front of his face, but I guess you can decide.

Bela was diagnosed with Hyperthyroidism earlier this year. I chose for him to go through Radioiodine Therapy, which meant I had to be cautious not to come in contact with his waste for 10 days after being discharged from the hospital. The Radiation levels lowered rapidly during the first two days and took a slow slide down the curve back to normal values. There was a protocol to bag and store his urine and feces in bags, then place those bags inside a 5-gallon bucket lined with two heavy garbage bags. After 10 days, all leftover litter, gloves, and masks I wore were to be stored in the same manner. Disposable potty pads were used on the floor and hallway to catch all excess litter as he walked away from his box. Everything was bagged into 5-gallon buckets, labeled with radiation stickers, and stored away from high-traffic areas, outside for 80 days. At that point, whatever was to be discarded could be put into the regular trash bins and taken to the local landfill. After opening the same waste bucket repeatedly for 10 days, it wasn't smelling bad at all. These bags opened & tied easily, never tore, and had a reminder sticker saying, "Only 3 bags left to the end of the roll". Even the box the bags came in was recyclable. I purchased the Lavender bags, liked the scent, and Bela didn't want to eat them. He was a stray for an unknown period of time before I rescued him, 3 years ago. He still has some weird quirks, but that's ok, we live in Portland, OR. This town rallies to "Keep Portland Weird". We do our best to follow the notion of not taking ourselves too seriously.

I normally buy the "pantry pack" box from Earth Rated as it's easy to store in my entryway and quickly grab a bag on our way out the door. Recently I was making up a "rescue puppy gift basket" for a friend and added this smaller box of refill bags to my order - she is a new dog mom and I wanted her to start off on the right foot! These are the same quality as the pantry pack and even though the rolls are very tiny and tightly-rolled, it's super easy to peel off a bag, tear at the perforation, and be on your way. I've never once, in two years, had one of these bags fail, tear, or have a hole. Even when my Lab insists on squatting over a pile of twigs to poop (it's like a game for him), I can easily grab his poop with a handful of small twigs/sticks and they have not punctured the bag. We do buy the scented bags because on longer walks, I find that the lavender fragrance is a nice barrier to the smell. Also appreciate this company's use of recycled packaging and that, unlike traditional plastic bags, the bags are made of material with EPI that helps them to break down more easily in the environment. I highly recommend Earth Rated bags and even if other bags are cheaper, I stick with these.

I would say that what these bags lack in handles they make up for by being biodegradable and very thick at the same time. It's a lot less disgusting to pick up after the dogs with these than with any other bags I've used. They've never failed me and left me messy, even when the dogs choose brush to potty into. Big bonus points for the perforated sticker that holds the new bags in place. LOVE that I don't have to struggle to get the roll started. Also major props for the little sticker on the 3rd to last bag that alerts you "3 bags left" so you don't find yourself lacking. Great product