What about kitty litter? Kitty litter dumped outside can wash into streams. Bag it or double-bag it and pitch it in the trash.

Can dog poop be flushed? Sure it can. If you want to bring pet waste indoors and flush it un-bagged down the toilet, it will be subject to the same filtering and treatment as human wastewater. One tip to pull this off is to wait just long enough for the waste to dry and/or solidify so that it can be transported and dropped in the toilet with minimal mess.

Seasonal actions for water and soil health:

• Prepare your winter maintenance toolkit and brush-up on smart salting.

Looking ahead: 

• Plan to dispose of holiday greens and Christmas trees responsibly: Out of ditches, forests, and wetlands, and into a compost site or special curbside pick-up.

Wetland Buffers: The Basics