My Dog Recycles: Less Waste, More Wag
A better life with pets can start with the stuff already at our feet.
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I think our dog Beans needs a new bowl because the old one clashes with the kitchen. Ohhhh, that cushy bed with the holiday design would be so fun to see our cat Smudge in. (Imagine the pictures!) Of course our daughter and her dog need matching sweatshirts!
Yup, these are the thoughts often running through my head.
I love our pets. I spoil them. (As it should be.) But somewhere between the matching walking accessories and the third basket of toys, it gets easy to confuse caring for our pets with buying more things for them. A little more thought about what we buy, keep, repair, and throw away can make room for less waste without making life with animals less fun.
So, yes, My Dog Recycles. (With a little help from the person who can read the labels.)
Start With the Gear You Already Have
Before buying something new, give the old favorites a little attention. Check that harnesses and leashes are still sound and fit well, and wash the bed according to its care label. A fresh wash or a replacement part from the manufacturer might be all it takes to keep a favorite in the mix.
Have something your pet has outgrown? A clean, usable harness or bed might make another family’s day. Check what a friend or shelter can use, then pass it along. More walks, more naps, less stuff sitting in the closet.
A Second Life, With Four Legs Attached
Ruffwear’s RuffWorn collection puts that idea to work with returns, samples, and gently used gear ready for another round of walks. It’s a chance to find a harness or jacket with plenty of adventures left. Trust me, your dog won't know you re-gifted!
I have a couple of pieces from RuffWorn, and you would never know they were pre-loved. I already buy Ruffwear because its durability has always stood out to me. Finding that same sturdy gear at a lower cost, while giving it another round of adventures, makes RuffWorn an easy place to look next.
Check the condition notes and sizing before ordering: RuffWorn purchases are final sale and cannot be returned or exchanged.
From Bike Rides to Dog Walks
A retired bicycle inner tube might not look like much of a gift for a dog. Give it a new job as the backing of a collar, though, and now we’re talking. Cycle Dog uses discarded inner tubes in its No-Stink collars, turning a hard-to-recycle material into everyday walking gear. The waterproof rubber backing helps resist odors, too. A little less waste and a little less eau de dog? That’s a combination worth a look.
Cycle Dog also makes the Duraplush Springy Thing. It looks like a four-legged octopus with springy bounce in the long legs. The toy is made from recycled materials, including bicycle inner tubes (hence the springy bounce).
“This might be the most fun toy my dog has ever had. And I love a good round of tug using it because the long 'legs' let me take hold without worrying about an accidental chomp.” — Kayt
More Play, Less Toy Trash
P.L.A.Y.’s ZoomieRex IncrediBall and Tug Ball Rope Toy impressed me, too. Both feel tough, and I expect them to stick around for plenty of playtime. The IncrediBall bounces, floats, and holds treats, so one toy can do several jobs. It has stood up extremely well to Beans's strong jaws. It is also dishwasher safe. The Tug Ball uses braided cotton rope and can go through the wash while the rope is still intact.
There’s a packaging detail worth a little tail wag: P.L.A.Y. says it keeps packaging minimal and uses FSC-certified paper for its product tags. Washable toys, more than one way to play, and less wasteful packaging are useful things to look for when it is time to replace a favorite.
IncrediBall and Tug Ball.
The toy already in the basket deserves another turn, too. Rotate a few favorites, use part of a regular meal in a supervised sniffing game, or make a snuffle mat from an old T-shirt. Choose safe sizes, supervise play, and retire anything with loose pieces your pet could swallow. A cat might be just as delighted with a clean cardboard box. No checkout required.
Old Bottles, New Nap Spot
P.L.A.Y.’s Horizon Pillow Bed gives old plastic bottles a softer second act. Its PlanetFill filling is made from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic bottles.
The removable cover and insert are both machine washable and dryer-friendly. That's a non-negotiable, right? Keeping a bed clean and in use is part of the story, too. We included the Horizon in our holiday gift guide because this is one of those beds that wowed me immediately. This beauty is solidly made, soft but durable to the touch, and oh-so-pretty. Beans's bestie, Que, loves it so much that we actually had to lift it from the floor to his favorite spot on the couch because he wanted a snuggle with his humans but didn't want to leave this bed behind. So much for any concern that filling made from recycled bottles wouldn't be comfortable.
A Blanket With a Past
Better Blanket’s collection offers dog blankets knitted in New Jersey from a recycled cotton blend. Recovered cotton gets another life, and a dog gets a special blanket to curl up in. The blankets are machine washable, too, which is a welcome detail for anything sharing a home with paws.
Already have a perfectly good nap setup? Keep it going. A washable cover, a replacement cover when one wears out, or a blanket you already own can give the bed a longer working life.
A Little Something for the Humans
And because the humans deserve a little something, too, Moss Dog and Moss Cat keychains turn full-grain leather remnants from larger goods into pet-shaped keepsakes. Those offcuts get a new job on our keys or bags, along with a chance to announce that, yes, we are completely smitten with our animals.
A Little More Thought in the Food Bowl
Food is a daily decision, and small changes can reduce waste here, too. I’d start with the nutritional adequacy statement, not the prettiest promise on the bag. In the U.S., look for “complete and balanced” food for your pet’s species and life stage, backed by an AAFCO nutrient profile or feeding trial. Treats and toppers do not automatically make a complete meal.
Ingredients matter, but “by-product” does not mean useless. Nutritious animal by-products can put parts of the food supply to work that people do not commonly eat. Dry food generally has a lower carbon footprint than wet food, according to the British Veterinary Association, but your pet’s health needs come first. Keep a prescribed diet in place unless your vet recommends a change.
And plant-based food? For dogs, a properly formulated plant diet may meet nutritional needs. I’d talk with the vet about the specific food, the company’s nutrition expertise and quality control, and any follow-up checks. Long-term research is still limited. This is a planned diet change, not an invitation to fill the bowl with whatever vegetables are left from dinner.
Cats need their own conversation. They have specialized nutritional requirements, and the British Veterinary Association currently does not recommend vegetarian or vegan diets for cats. A lower-impact label is not a reason to gamble with a pet’s health.
A few simpler wins: measure meals, count treats as part of the day’s food, and buy an amount you can use while it is fresh. If you use a reusable bin for kibble, keep the original bag inside it, as the FDA advises. That also keeps the lot number handy if you ever need it.
Keep the Care, Trim the Extras
The vet belongs on this team, too. I’d look for small ways to cut waste around care: digital records and receipts, a sturdy carrier that lasts, and asking the clinic how to dispose of unused medication. Checkups, dental care, vaccines, and parasite prevention stay in the plan, tailored to the animal. Fewer unnecessary purchases can be a win. Skipping needed care isn’t.
The Scoop on the Least Glamorous Part
Of course, life with dogs also comes with the less photogenic kind of waste. Picking it up and carrying it to the proper bin helps keep our favorite walks pleasant and our waterways cleaner.
Even a bag labeled compostable needs the right disposal route. Used poop bags stay out of recycling, and the EPA recommends keeping pet waste out of backyard compost. Check your local rules, pack a spare bag, and keep enjoying the walk.
The Cat Gets a Say in This, Too
When comparing cat litter, I’d look at the material, how much gets thrown away, and whether the cat will actually use it.
A litter can be convenient without being the kinder choice for the planet. These are better places to start, not a universal ranking: the actual ingredients, sourcing, processing, and amount used all matter.
First to Consider: Materials Getting Another Use
Recycled Paper: Gives recovered paper another job. Often available as softer pellets with relatively little dust, but many formulas do not clump and odor control can be less effective.
Reclaimed Wood: Look for documented wood-industry leftovers rather than assuming every wood product is recycled. Pellets and finer clumping varieties behave differently; some cats object to hard pellets or a strong wood scent.
Walnut Shells: Uses the shell rather than the edible nut. Clumping formulas can make daily cleaning convenient, but dust, tracking, and performance vary.
Worth Considering: Other Plant-Based Options
Corn, Wheat, and Grass: Renewable materials with soft, lightweight options. Plant-based does not mean impact-free: growing crops uses land and other resources. Check the actual formula, keep unused litter dry, and choose a texture your cat accepts.
Tofu-Style Litter: Check what is really in the bag. The name alone does not establish how much material is a recovered food-processing byproduct, what binders are used, or whether minerals have been blended in.
Less Favorable From a Materials Perspective
Clay: Often inexpensive, familiar, and easy to scoop, but it is mined and does not biodegrade. Bentonite production involves surface mining and processing.
Silica Gel: Highly absorbent and sometimes longer-lasting between changes, but it is manufactured mineral material, not a renewable or biodegradable alternative.
The Best Choice Still Has to Work for the Cat
Fine, unscented litter is generally a better starting point for feline acceptance than a dramatic texture or fragrance change. Offer a new option alongside the familiar one rather than forcing a switch. For paw pain, breathing concerns, or litter eating, involve your veterinarian.
Whatever the material, do not put used litter in recycling or ordinary backyard compost, and do not assume a biodegradable label makes it appropriate to flush.
The Yard Is Part of the Dog’s Footprint
Our dogs’ world includes the yard, too. Earthwise’s PetLawn pairs tall fescue with white Dutch clover. Clover works with bacteria at its roots to fix nitrogen, which can reduce the need for nitrogen fertilizer. And when allowed to flower, it gives visiting pollinators something to eat.
I'm a big fan of Earthwise's yard options, and we only use PetLawn within our fenced backyard now because of how well it stands up to Beans' love of the zoomies.
A patch of yard with a job beyond looking green? That’s worth a look.
Earthwise promotes PetLawn as a lower-maintenance mix once it’s established. That appeals to me because I want a backyard Beans can enjoy, not a lawn I spend every weekend defending from her. Making room for clover also means reconsidering whether every little flower needs to count as a weed.
Keep the Good Stuff Going
You don’t need a whole new dog cupboard to make a better choice. Keep the useful things going, give the next purchase a little thought, and support the people finding good second lives for old materials.
Then grab the leash and go do the part your dog actually cares about.
This story is part of The 89 Percent Project, an initiative of the global journalism collaboration Covering Climate Now.
