10 Best Biodegradable Dog Poop Bags of 2024 – Reviews & Guide
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If you have a dog, you probably need a steady supply of poop bags. But how do you protect the environment and keep things sanitary without breaking the bank? Whether you’re looking to stop using plastic or just need a new environmentally friendly brand, we’re here to help.
We bought and tested all the biggest brands and came up with this list of the 10 best biodegradable dog poop bags of the year. For each brand, we’ve written a comprehensive review, looking carefully at price, biodegradable features, overall design, quality, and size so you’ll know exactly what you’re getting. And if you’d like to know more about biodegradable features or any other options, look at our buyer’s guide at the end.
Our Favorites in 2024 (Compared)
Rating | Image | Product | Details | |
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Best Overall | PET N PET Biodegradable Dog Poop Bags |
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Best Value | Doggy Do Good Biodegradable Dog Poop Bags |
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Premium Choice | ZPAW Biodegradable Dog Poop Bags |
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Pets N Bags Biodegradable Dog Poop Bags |
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PLANET POOP Biodegradable Bags for Dogs |
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The 10 Best Biodegradable Dog Poop Bags
1. PET N PET Biodegradable Dog Poop Bags – Best Overall
Our overall favorite brand is PET N PET’s Environmentally Friendly Dog Poop Bags, which are large oxo-biodegradable bags sold at a very low price.
These bags are sold in sets of 720, divided among 48 rolls. They have easy-tear perforations, flat bottoms, and full waterproofing. With 9×13-inch dimensions and an included bag dispenser that can attach to your leash, these unscented bags are environmentally friendly and offer great value.
Overall, these bags are large and easy to use. We found that they were somewhat difficult to open and occasionally arrived without a bottom seal. They’re also not fully biodegradable and can’t be composted commercially or at home.
All in all, we think these are the best biodegradable dog poop bags out there.
- 100% oxo-biodegradable
- Low price for a 720-count box
- Includes leash-attaching bag dispenser
- Durable, unscented, and waterproof
- Large 13×9-inch dimensions with a flat bottom
- Easy-tear perforations
- Not fully biodegradable or compostable
- Bags can be difficult to open
- Some production issues like unsealed bags
2. Doggy Do Good Biodegradable Dog Poop Bags – Best Value
If you’re looking for value, you may be interested in the Doggy Do Good Biodegradable Poop Bags, which we find to be the best biodegradable dog poop bags for the money.
These poop bags, sold in 60-bag, six-roll boxes, are inexpensive and have recycled cardboard cores. These bags are commercially compostable and made of corn starch, breaking down in 90 days. Each unscented bag can hold half a gallon and is 20 microns thick.
These bags can’t be composted at home and may arrive loose or unrolled, which is inconvenient if you’re filling a bag dispenser. They feel somewhat thin but are very durable and effective overall. Doggy Do Good offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee, and a portion of every purchase goes to animal rescues and no-kill shelters.
- Low price for 60-bag box
- Fully biodegradable and commercially compostable
- Recycled cardboard cores
- Unscented and made of cornstarch
- Can hold half a gallon
- 100% satisfaction guarantee
- The company donates a portion of each purchase
- Can’t be composted at home
- May arrive loose or unrolled
- Feel somewhat thin
3. ZPAW Biodegradable Dog Poop Bags – Premium Choice
Are you in the market for premium poop bags? You may be interested in the ZPAW Biodegradable Dog Poop Bags, which are somewhat pricey but also compostable and sold without cores.
These corn starch poop bags are commercially compostable and sold in 480-count boxes. The sides are 20 microns thick, and the bags are large, unscented, and sturdy. We liked that these bags were sold without disposable cores, making them more environmentally friendly.
ZPAW’s poop bags may arrive unsealed or ripped, and the stickers holding the rolls together are overly adhesive, ripping the first bag on each roll. These bags are also narrow at the bottom, making them somewhat more difficult to use.
- Commercially compostable and made of corn starch
- No cores
- Sold in 480-count boxes
- Large, unscented, and reasonably sturdy
- More expensive
- May arrive unsealed or ripped
- Overly strong sticker rips many bags
- Narrow bottom is harder to use
4. Pets N Bags Biodegradable Dog Poop Bags
Another option is the Pets N Bags Dog Poop Bag, which is an oxo-biodegradable brand that’s not quite as well-constructed.
These unscented bags have a water-resistant coating. They’re sold in 360-count boxes with recycled cardboard cores. The package includes a fun bone-shaped bag dispenser that you can easily attach to your dog’s leash.
When we tested these bags, we found that they were somewhat brittle, with poorly sealed seams. They can’t be composted and aren’t fully biodegradable. The plastic dispenser is also not very well-designed, as the lid falls off easily.
- Oxo-biodegradable
- Inexpensive and sold in 360-bag boxes
- Unscented with water-resistant coating
- Recycled cardboard cores
- Includes bone-shaped plastic dispenser
- Not compostable or fully biodegradable
- Somewhat brittle
- Poorly sealed seams
- Not a very well-designed dispenser
5. PLANET POOP Biodegradable Bags for Dogs
PLANET POOP’s Biodegradable Poop Bags are vegetable-based and compostable, with handles and double-sealed bases. They’re also more expensive and frequently arrive damaged.
These industrially compostable bags are sold in 120-count boxes. The boxes and cores are made of recycled cardboard. The bags are 20 microns thick and have three-inch handles that you can use to tie up full bags. The bottoms are double-sealed for added security. A portion of the company’s profits goes toward animal rescues in Indonesia.
These bags may be too large if you have a smaller dog. We also found that many arrived ripped or unrolled.
- Industrially compostable and vegetable-based
- Recycled cardboard boxes and cores
- Sold in 120-count boxes
- Handles for easy carrying and tying
- A portion of the profits supports animal rescues in Indonesia
- Double-sealed bottom seams
- More expensive
- May be too large for smaller dogs
- Bags may arrive ripped or unsealed
6. My AlphaPet Dog Poop Bags
The My AlphaPet Dog Poop Bags are a fully biodegradable, vegetable-based option. Unfortunately, they’re also somewhat pricey and not very well made.
These corn starch bags are sold in 120-count boxes. They’re industrially compostable, meeting American and European composting standards. They have cardboard cores, 20-micron sides, and no scent. The dimensions are 9×13 inches.
We found that the gathered bottom made these bags smaller and more difficult to use. They don’t seem very well made and don’t arrive consistently sealed.
- Fully biodegradable and industrially compostable
- Made of cornstarch
- Sold in 120-count boxes
- Unscented and 20 microns thick
- Cardboard cores
- Somewhat poorly made
- Arrive inconsistently sealed
- Gathered bottom is smaller and more difficult to use
7. ECO-CLEAN Biodegradable Dog Poop-Bags
ECO-CLEAN’s poopbag24roll Poop Bags are inexpensive and oxo-biodegradable. They’re also not very well designed, harder to use, and can’t be composted.
These poop bags are sold in 360-count boxes. They’re oxo-biodegradable, so they can’t be composted commercially or at home. They have cardboard cores and come with a bone-shaped plastic dispenser that you can easily attach to your dog’s leash.
When we tested these bags, we found that they didn’t hold in smells and were fairly difficult to open. The perforations don’t work well, so the bags can be difficult to separate.
- Inexpensive and oxo-biodegradable
- Sold in 360-count boxes
- Cardboard cores
- Includes a bone-shaped dispenser that attaches to leashes
- Not compostable or fully biodegradable
- Don’t hold in smells
- Can be difficult to open
- Ineffective perforation makes bags hard to separate
8. EXPAWLORER 900 Dog-Poop Bags
The ET086-5NEW Dog Poop Bags from EXPAWLORER are inexpensive and come in large quantities. They have fun designs but don’t work well and aren’t very well made.
These 9×13-inch bags are sold in large 900-bag boxes, so they’re a decent option if you’re looking to stock up. They come in a choice of four fun colors and patterns, and the package includes a transparent bone-shaped plastic dispenser that you can attach to your leash.
These bags are oxo-biodegradable, so they can’t be composted and aren’t vegetable-based. The cores are made of less environmentally friendly plastic. We found that they arrived with many unsealed seams and felt thin, ripping fairly easily.
- Low cost and sold in large 900-count boxes
- Choice of four fun colors and patterns
- Includes bone-shaped dispenser
- Oxo-biodegradable
- Not compostable or vegetable-based
- Less environmentally friendly plastic cores
- Thin bags rip fairly easily
- Many arrive with unsealed bottom seams
9. Shit Happens Biodegradable Poop Bags for Dogs
The Shit Happens Biodegradable Poop Bags are pricey and somewhat cheap-feeling but do meet the standards for home composting.
These poop bags are sold in 240-count boxes at a surprisingly high price. They have a goofy graphic design and are sold without cores. These environmentally friendly bags are made of corn starch and biodegradable PBAT plastic, and they’re certified for home and industrial composting. The package includes a fabric dispenser with a carabiner for leash attachment. The company donates some of its profits to TCSPCA, the Stray Dogs Association of Turks and Caicos.
When we tried it out, we found that the dispenser didn’t feel very well made or durable. Unless you’re interested in backyard composting, the high price is hard to justify. The stickers also rip the first bags on each roll.
- Sold in 240-count boxes
- Goofy design
- Made of fully biodegradable corn starch and PBAT
- Suitable for home and commercial composting
- No cores
- Includes fabric dispenser with carabiner
- Company donates to the TCSPCA of Turks and Caicos
- More expensive
- Cheaper-feeling, less durable dispenser
- Stickers rip many bags
10. Glowing Paws Dog Pooping Bags
Our least favorite brand is the Glowing Paws Dog Poop Bags, which are inexpensive but not compostable or fully biodegradable.
These poop bags come in 450-count boxes. They’re made of oxo-biodegradable plastic, so they’ll break down over time, but they aren’t compostable or vegetable-based. The package includes a basic plastic dispenser that you can attach to your dog’s leash.
These bags are thick and offer fairly good value, but they’re not especially environmentally friendly. Unfortunately, we found that they often arrived ripped or unsealed. Glowing Paws does offer a money-back guarantee.
- Sold in 450-bag boxes
- Fairly inexpensive
- Oxo-biodegradable
- Includes basic plastic dispenser that attaches to leash
- Money-back guarantee
- Not compostable or fully biodegradable
- May arrive ripped or unsealed
- Not especially environmentally friendly
Buyers Guide: Choosing the Best Biodegradable Dog Poop Bags
Now that you’ve read through our favorite biodegradable poop bag brands, it’s time to take your pick. But which will work best for you, and what exactly does biodegradable mean? Keep reading to find our quick guide to your options
What’s the difference between biodegradable and oxo-biodegradable?
Biodegradable materials break down naturally with the help of bacteria and other organisms in the environment. Fully biodegradable products break down into innocuous, non-toxic components, leaving materials that aren’t harmful to the environment and won’t sit in a landfill for hundreds of years.
Biodegradable poop bags are typically made of corn starch or other vegetable-based materials. These natural materials are generally compostable.
Oxo-biodegradable products are made of plastic mixed with an additive that helps them break down. With enough oxygen, these products will break down into microplastics, which are very small particles of plastic. These materials aren’t as eco-friendly, as they’re still made of plastic that doesn’t fully break down into non-toxic components.
Home vs Industrial Composting
Does your city have a compost program? Many of the biodegradable bags we reviewed here are industrially compostable, so you can dispose of them along with other compostable materials. In some places, you can have compost picked up alongside trash and recycling, but in others, you may need to take your compost directly to a facility. The industrial compost center will create the right conditions for materials like biodegradable poop bags to fully decompose.
Home composting can be a great way to get rid of your kitchen scraps and fertilize your garden at the same time. If you’re interested in backyard composting, you may want to look for poop bags that are certified for home composting. Bags that are only certified for industrial composting may not fully break down in your backyard.
Accessories
Though poop bags generally don’t come with many accessories, they may include a bag dispenser. These small, highly portable plastic containers typically attach to your dog’s leash and can help you keep track of unused bags.
Final Verdict
So what’s the bottom line? Our favorite bags are PET N PET’s Environmentally Friendly Dog Poop Bags, which are inexpensive, oxo-biodegradable, and come with a handy dispenser. If you’re looking to spend less, you may prefer the Doggy Do Good Biodegradable Poop Bags, which are industrially compostable, vegetable-based, and impressively sturdy. If you’re willing to spend a bit more, you may want to consider the ZPAW Biodegradable Dog Poop Bags, which are fully compostable, coreless, and well-designed.
Dog poop bags that are sturdy, inexpensive, and eco-friendly can be difficult to find. We hope this list of the 10 best biodegradable dog poop bags available this year, complete with detailed reviews and a convenient buyer’s guide, helps you find a brand that will keep you stocked for years. Your dog, your wallet, and the environment will thank you!