The 6 Best Compostable Dog Poop Bags, Tested and ...

Our overall favorite are Unni 100% Compostable Extra Thick Pet Waste Bags, which adhere to the U.S. compostable standard ASTM D6400 and various European standards, including the rigorous OK Compost Home certification.

For more information, please visit our website.

A reliable compostable dog should have all the qualities of a standard poop bag–easy to open, large enough to hold your dog’s load–in addition to their sustainable bonafides. We tested 13 bags made from bioplastics under real-world conditions, using volunteer testers and their dogs.

Composting is the process of recycling organic matter, such as food scraps, leaves, and even pet waste, into fertilizer that can be used to enrich soil and plants. To safely compost dog poop—at home or at a composting facility—a bag needs to be made out of bioplastic, which is a type of plastic made from non-petroleum sources—often corn or tapioca—instead of fossil fuels.

Picking up after your dog with a compostable poop bag can reduce the amount of waste that ends up in a landfill while turning your dog’s digested food into nutrient-rich fertilizer.

Best Overall

Unni Pet Waste Bags

PHOTO:

Amazon

$17 At Amazon

$13 At Walmart

View On Unni.world

What We Like

• Made from vegetable-derived bioplastic (non-petroleum)

• Suitable for at-home composting

• Soft texture

• Multiple national and international compostable certifications

What We Don't Like

• Can start to degrade in less than a year if stored for too long, so bulk buying is not recommended

• A little hard to open sometimes

Combining a standard poop bag design with the most comprehensive composting certifications, the Unni 100% Compostable Extra Thick Pet Waste Bags are the best compostable dog poop bags for most people.

Packaged as rolls with easy-to-tear perforated lines separating each pouch, the Unni 100% Compostable Extra Thick Pet Waste Bags maintain the look and design of conventional dog poop bags, so they fit inside most leash attachment holders. While testing the bags on walks with an English Setter mix and a miniature Golden Doodle the compostable bags seamlessly fit into their existing routine and gear. 

Even if composting is not an option in your area, the bioplastic bags are made from corn oil instead of fossil fuels, allowing you to divest from petroleum sources. Unni bags adhere to the U.S. compostable standard ASTM D6400 for composting in a municipal facility—a rare utility, even in major urban areas.

However, Unni poop bags can also be composted at home, according to the certification standards set by Austrian testing company TÜV, which established the OK Compost Home certification in 2003, setting standards that have shaped biodegradable plastic policies throughout Europe and in Australia. The certification tests for bags that can be turned into useful compost at the lower temperatures found in home compost systems. Composting pet waste comes with some unique challenges, but if you've safely incorporated pet waste into your home composting system, then Unni bags should work for you.

Each bag is 9 by 13 inches and 0.8 millimeters thick which provides ample space for your dog’s waste and will sufficiently separate the fresh contents inside from your skin. The durable bags feel softer than their polyethylene counterparts, but we found them to be slightly tricky to open at times–common among poop bags. Unlike, non-ethylene dog bags, these bags start to degrade if stored for too long (about a year), so we do not recommend buying in bulk. 

Size: 9 x 13 inches | Material: Corn and plant starch-based plastic | Colors: Green

• The Spruce Pets / Meredith Luksetich

• The Spruce Pets / Meredith Luksetich

• The Spruce Pets / Meredith Luksetich

• The Spruce Pets / Meredith Luksetich

• The Spruce Pets / Meredith Luksetich

Best for Small Dogs

BioBag Standard Pet Waste Bags

PHOTO:

Amazon

$24 At Amazon

$7 At Chewy

View On PETCO

What We Like

• Unscented

• Durable construction

• Pull-through hole at the top of each bag for secure tying

• Black bags fully conceal contents and stench

What We Don't Like

• Not compatible with most leash attachment pouches

BioBag Compostable Pet Waste Bags are slightly smaller than other compostable dog poop bags that made our list, so they are ideal for scooping up after little dogs who expend less matter during their potty sessions. 

Each bag is eight by 11.4 inches providing sufficient space to hold waste, and 0.92 millimeters thick, so they are durable and capable of supporting the weight of dog poop. A pull-through hole at the top of the bag makes it easy to secure and knot the bag, fully concealing the contents and its associated aroma. 

Similar to a notepad, these black bioplastic sacks come in packs connected at the top with a perforated line separating each pouch. Unlike conventional poop bags packaged in a roll, these bags aren’t designed to be carried in a leash attachment pouch so it’s not as seamless to swap the BioBags into an established walking routine.

Size: 8 x 11.4 inches | Material: Starches of plants, vegetable oils, and compostable polymers | Color: Black

Best for At-Home

beyondGREEN Dog Waste Bag Refill Rolls

PHOTO:

Chewy

$30 At Chewy

$32 At Walmart

$1 At Wayfair

What We Like

• Easy to open with less static than conventional poop bags

• Unscented, but some pet parents detect a slight popcorn smell

What We Don't Like

• At home composting is not for beginners

If you are an experienced composter in search of dog poop bags to facilitate the composting process–which is not easy, BeyondGreen Compostable Dog Waste Bags are our top pick. 

These green-colored bags are manufactured in the United States and made out of plant-based biopolymers to fully decompose while composting. These BeyondGreen bags have certification from various trusted organizations in America and Europe to meet the standards for composting at home. 

Packaged in rolls, each pouch is easy to separate, with less static than conventional plastic bags, so they open up without a struggle. They are sturdy and capable of supporting the weight of a dog’s poop all the way back home for composting.

Size: 9 x12 inches | Material: Plant-based biopolymers | Color: Green

Best for Big Dogs

Lucky Dog Ultimate Poop Bags

PHOTO:

Amazon

$21 At Amazon

$40 At Chewy

$50 At Walmart

What We Like

HuaWei are exported all over the world and different industries with quality first. Our belief is to provide our customers with more and better high value-added products. Let's create a better future together.

• No center core in roll

• Very durable with a rubber-like quality

• Easy to tear from the roll and open

What We Don't Like

• Will start to deteriorate if stored for a long duration

• Slightly see-through, white coloring of the bags does not hide the contents

Lucky Dog Ultimate Poop Bags have a rubber-like texture designed to endure heavy loads and prevent puncture holes even when used on pointy outdoor terrain. During our testing period picking up after a 60-pound Golden Doodle, one bag was capable of holding a hefty amount of number two. 

Each core-less roll contains 15 compostable bags made from GMO-free plants and corn. With biodegradability and composting certification in the United States, Canada, and Europe, these bags are suitable for most facilities where pet waste is accepted and processed. The bags are white but not completely opaque so there is no hiding what’s inside, but they do conceal the off-putting aroma of dog poop once securely tied in a knot.

Like our pick for Best Overall,  Unni 100% Compostable Extra Thick Pet Waste Bags, these bags will begin to deteriorate if stored for a long period of time. We recommend purchasing the minimum amount of bags you need at a given time and refreshing your stash regularly throughout the year. 

Size: 9 x 13 inches | Material: GMO-free plant-based resin | Color: White

Best Budget

Pet N Pet Compostable Dog Poop Bags

PHOTO:

Amazon

$14 At Amazon

$22 At Chewy

$28 At Walmart

What We Like

• Unscented

• Suitable for at-home composting

• Easy to open

What We Don’t Like

• Slight scent after initial unboxing

Pet N Pet Compostable Dog Poop Bags are priced affordably and certified for home composting in the United States and Europe. The green-colored bags are made from cornstarch and easily fit into a standard leash attachment. 

Each bag is easy to separate from the roll along a perforated line, and we found them easier to open than other compostable bags we tested. The bags offered sufficient space for picking up after a 38-pound hound dog mix with extra slack to tie at the top. They remained intact across a variety of outdoor surfaces and cold weather conditions. 

The bags are unscented but we noticed a slight scent after unboxing that dissipated after a few days. 

Size: 9 x13 inches | Material: Cornstarch bio-based material | Color: Green

Best Sheets

Pooch Paper Dog Waste Sheet

PHOTO:

Orvis

$13 At Chewy

$13 At onlynaturalpet.com

What We Like

• Very durable, difficult to puncture

• Plastic-free, PFAS-free, and made from non-chlorine bleach recycled paper fiber

• Corn-based coating on sheets keeps grease away from hands

• Compostable and biodegradable

What We Don't Like

• Watery waste can be difficult to contain

• Larger dogs may require more than one sheet per session

Using previously-discarded, recycled paper, Pooch Paper Biodegradable Dog Waste Sheets are square-shaped sheets designed to keep hands clean while scooping poop. Made in the United States using renewable energy, the unscented sheets are completely free of plastic and PFAS-S—the manmade substances commonly referred to as "forever chemicals," which break into microplastics instead of decomposing.

Similar to using parchment paper to select a muffin at a bakery, you use each sheet to protect your hand while picking up poop. The unconventional shape might take some time to get used to, but they are easy to use once you get the hang of it. After you pick up your dog’s poop, the four corners come together and can be twisted shut, forming a pouch for disposal. The tan-colored sheets are coated with a corn-based substance to keep the grease and bacteria from your dog’s poop away from your hands. But even the twisted pouch can't keep these for leaking, so they're more appropriate for the dog park than carrying waste around for the rest of a walk.

Pooch Paper sheets come in two sizes: 12-inch squares and larger. While Pooch Paper sheets are easy to stash in a pocket before going on a walk, they're not compatible with standard leash poop bag holders. Instead, check out the Pooch Pouch if you're looking for a portable storage solution.

Size: 12 x 12 inches (regular); 14 x 14 inches (large) | Material: Recycled, unbleached paper | Color: Tan

As the saying goes, “Sh*t happens,” and as every responsible dog owner knows, cleaning up after their dogs is an absolute must. For those of us who try to be good stewards of the environment, biodegradable poop bags seem like a smart choice. Who wants to think of their dog’s poop festering away in a traditional polymer bag designed to survive a zombie apocalypse?

Unfortunately, the term “biodegradable” isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. When it comes to dog waste bags, Kermit the Frog was right: It’s not easy being green.

“Biodegradable” means “being of a substance or object capable of being decomposed by bacteria or other living organisms.” The definition offers no parameters as to how long it will take to achieve decomposition. Will a traditional polymer bag eventually degrade? Sure. But ecologists estimate it takes about 10 to 20 years in the environment and 1,000 years in a landfill. 

“Landfills are built to exclude air, light, and water, so things that are in there will be there for a lifetime,” says Bob Borrows, a waste-policy analyst with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. Another problem? When traditional plastic bags degrade, they leave behind microplastics that contaminate the environment.

COMPOSTABLE DOG POOP BAGS

At this juncture, our recommended course of action is to buy compostable poop bags. “Compostable” is defined as being made of “organic matter able to be made into compost.” Today, many eco-minded manufacturers of pet waste bags offer a product line of compostable bags. 

Most compostable pet waste bags are considered bioplastics; they look, feel and perform like plastic, but are typically made from renewable resources such as plant starch and are designed to breakdown via microbial activity. In a commercial composting facility, this can take about 90 days. If the bag is rated for home composting, the process can take 180 to 360 days, depending on climate and condition of the composting environment. 

Further, we recommend looking for compostable bags that are ASTM D600 certified. ASTM is a voluntary standards organization, and D6400 certification ensures the product will successfully degrade in a way that will not negatively diminish the value or utility of the resulting compost. 

That’s great news! But there’s some bad news: These plant-based bags are more expensive to produce than conventional plastic bags; your cost for fewer bags may be twice what you’d pay for plastic.

Moreover, while plant-based bags and poop are compostable, few commercial composting facilities in the United States accept pet waste – so you can’t just toss that bag of poo into the green yard trimmings bin with alacrity. And, while it’s not impossible, creating the ideal recipe for a high-temperature compost (needed to kill pathogens) at home can be challenging. 

So why opt for the added expense and effort to source plant-based bags if they’re still likely to linger in a landfill?

Companies making the effort to produce waste bags that conform to compostability standards are, in general, striving to be earth-friendly in all facets of business. Using sustainable raw materials in a plant-based waste bag is still more eco-conscious than producing traditional polymer bags. Plus, it’s another small step we can all take to reduce our dependence on products made from fossil fuels. 

OUR TOP PICKS FOR PLANT-BASED DOG WASTE BAGS

We selected five popular brands of plant-based dog waste bags that conformed to the ASTM D6400 standard. That standard looks at product compostability, including whether or not the degradation of the material may diminish the value or utility of the resulting compost. 

Of the five brands, two (Doggy Do Good and Give A Sh!t) are also certified by TUV Austria (a European standards organization) for home composting.

Worth noting: It’s recommended that vegetable-based bags be kept in a cool, dry area and be used within a year of purchase.

All five brands feel durable. None of the bags tore improperly from the roll, all five were easy to open, and all withstood a reasonable amount of stretching and tugging. 

In looking at our third-place bags, these products received a lower rating only because they failed to survive a pocketed trip through the washer and drier (a common occurrence for most dog owners!). 

Also, in the case of the BioBag product, we marked it down for being substantially smaller, making it more difficult to flip the bag inside out to encase the mess without feeling like the mess was dangerously close to your hand. If you obsessively check your pockets on laundry day, or pick up after a small dog, these minor issues may not affect you. 

RECOMMENDED COMPOSTABLE PET WASTE BAGS

WDJ RatingProduct Name & MakerPrice SizeComments 4 out of 4 PawsDoggy Do Good Premium Pet Waste Bags
doggydogood.com$9.99 for 6 rolls of 10 bags on Amazon13.4” x 7” Folded; 13.4” x 11” with gussets expanded

20 microns thickUnscented. ASTM D6400 Certified. These bags can handle a big load! Core made from recycled material. We like that they’re also available as handle bags on a roll and a dispenser box. Large enough to accommodate litter box cleaning and diaper disposal. Company donates to six different animal welfare organizations on a quarterly basis. Survived the laundry test! 4 out of 4 PawsLucky Dog PoopBags
luckydogpoopbags.com$6.99 for 4 rolls of 15 bags on Amazon13” x 9”

17 microns thickUnscented. Plenty big enough to “glove up” and handle the job. From an environmental standpoint, we like that Lucky Dog rolls don’t have a core, however, that does mean rolls won’t work as well in most traditional rolled-bag dispensers. We appreciate the detailed explanation of conditions needed for biodegradation. Company donates 1% of profits to environmental causes. Survived the laundry test! The lighter color does little to disguise the contents, and we wish the bags were also available as a boxed bulk roll. 3 out of 4 PawsGive a Sh*t Poop Bags
giveasht.com$12.99 for 8 rolls of 15 bags on Amazon12.5” x 9”

18 microns thickUnscented. Nice large size. Packaging and core made from recycled material. We like that the company offers a plastic-free dispenser made of canvas that also has room for keys and treats. Bonus points for the punny company name and cute line drawings of dogs on the bags. Company donates 10% of profits to animal protection charities. Survived the laundry test! We do wish the bags were also available as a boxed bulk roll. 2.5 out of 4 PawsEarth Rated Compostable Poop Bags
earthrated.com$8 for 6 rolls of 10 bags on Amazon13” x 9”

20 microns thickAvailable in unscented and lavender scented. Large size. Packaging and core made from recycled materials. Company makes both certified compostable bags and bags made from polyethylene with an additive said to accelerate degradation in a landfill environment “when the bag is exposed to anaerobic landfill conditions (heat, oxygen, agitation and moisture).” We find this claim confusing since, by definition, “anaerobic” means “without oxygen.” The Earth Rated poop bag did not survive the laundry test; it melted onto itself while pocketed in the drier, rendering it unusable. 2.5 out of 4 PawsBio Bag Pet Waste Bags
biobagpet.com$4.99 for 50 bags on Amazon11.5” x 8”

23 microns thickUnscented. The smallest of all the bags we tried. Company website says product is also available in a larger size, but it was difficult to find and considerably more expensive on Amazon. Most readily available as a 50-bag perforated-top flat pack. We appreciate that the company notes the bags are designed to be composted in a municipal/industrial facility and acknowledges that such a facility may not exist in the purchaser’s area. Packaging also refers users to findacomposter.com, to aid in the search for an appropriate facility. The Bio Bag did not survive the laundry test; it melted into itself while pocketed in the drier, rendering it useless.

Leaders In Canine Compost Capability

While traditional composting facilities in the United States aren’t jumping at the chance to add pet waste to their roster of acceptable feed streams, a handful of forward-thinking entrepreneurs and citizens’ groups are successfully implementing pet-waste composting programs to help reduce the carbon footprint of man’s best friend. 

EnviroWagg in Aurora, Colorado, built an entire business out of composting dog feces, compostable bags and all, by partnering with a local residential dog-waste cleanup service and several area dog parks. The composted waste becomes Doggone Good Potting Soil, available online and in select Colorado retail locations. Owner Rose Seemann even wrote a related book, The Pet Poo Pocket Guide: How to Safely Compost and Recycle Pet Waste.

Similarly, a handful of dog parks and open space areas throughout the United States have started composting programs, including Marsha P. Johnson State Park (formerly East River State Park) in Brooklyn. Dog-owning park guests contribute to the enclosed pile using available scoopers or rapidly degradable paper waste bags. Sawdust is added to create the proper carbon-to-nitrogen ratio, and the compost pile is carefully attended to and monitored by park staff. The resulting fertilizer is used only on ornamental plants and flowers throughout the park, and, as an added precaution, away from children’s playground areas. 

Canadians are even more ahead of the game, with some areas allowing pet waste contained in certified compostable bags in green bins meant for yard trimmings, and many professional poop-scooping services, such as Turd Wranglers of Chilliwick, BC, offer both scooping services and a stand-alone waste removal service for owners happy to scoop or bag-up pet waste themselves, but who wish to keep the “doody deeds” out of the landfill by paying to have the waste delivered to an appropriate facility.

Get on the Paper Train: Pooch Paper

Ready to ditch pet waste bags all together? Enter Pooch Paper, a large sheet of recycled, non-chlorine-bleached, coated paper – sort of like wax paper. It’s strong enough to grab our test dog’s considerable-sized pile, but it required a little more focus to entrap the mess within the paper, which doesn’t conform to your hand as well as a pet waste bag. It was easier to use on dirt and very short grass. I struggled to grasp a mess in plush grass when individual “poo nuggets” separated from the pile and sank into the grass.  It’s a bit like the dexterity one has wearing a glove versus wearing a mitten.  Even though waste bags cover the hand like a mitten, they still allow for a trickier clean up. I’d trust Pooch Paper to a somewhat soft pile of poo, but anything resembling diarrhea would be a no-go.

Once the mess is contained in the paper, you just twist up the edges and carry it by the top of the bundle until you find an appropriate receptacle. With a twist of the wrist (versus a knot) being all that keeps the mess contained, I wouldn’t want to travel too far before pitching the poo. 

Pooch Paper comes in a box of individually folded sheets. It would take some care to stash a few sheets in a pocket or the zippered “Pooch Pouch” leash attachment (sold separately). I’m not sold on Pooch Paper for a long outing with the potential for multiple poops along the way – but this could be a great alternative to bags for apartment dwelling dog owners on quick “potty runs” throughout the day. Pooch Paper’s main benefit? It’s really, truly, fully biodegradable and compostable. $13 for 50 small (12″ x12″) sheets or $13.50 for 50 large sheets (14″ x 14″) at poochpaper.com. 

This got us thinking: If your pet’s pile can be easily contained in a 12″ sheet of paper, why not use unbleached compostable parchment paper, which can be torn to whatever length you desire? This could be a viable option for owners of small dogs with smaller “piles,” and, at just $3.50 for 45′, is very economical!

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit biobag dog poop bags.