1. Selected opportunity
The opportunity I selected to pursue focuses on the issue of my neighbors not picking up their dogs' waste. As a result, this led to an increased amount of dog waste in my neighborhood.
My neighborhood has approximately 400 home sites, and the majority of these do not have sidewalks. Over the many years I have lived here, I observed neighbors walking their dogs and not picking up after their dogs. I have also seen neighbors, both young and old, walking down the street and having to step into the adjacent grass because of passing cars. Many times, this leads to them stepping into dog waste. Children often ride their bikes down the street and also get off the roadway because of passing vehicles, causing them to potentially come into contact with dog waste. Beyond these observations, unclaimed dog waste is unsightly, smells foul, and is harmful to the environment.
2. Product/Service
Beginning with my neighborhood, I wanted to come up with a plan that would encourage fellow dog owners/walkers to pick up after their dogs. The idea is two-pronged with the first part providing dog bag stations along with dog bag receptacles for waste to be placed throughout my neighborhood. With a minimal cost to each homeowner to fund this project, I am confident that my homeowners' association would help provide funding to cover the cost of this project. This way, dog walkers don't have to buy dog waste bags. They can obtain them for free, pick up after their dog, and have a place to safely dispose of the dog waste afterward. This creates a win-win situation for dog owners, my neighborhood, and the environment as a whole.
The second aspect of my plan is to place signage on the receptacles explaining how dog owners can properly dispose of their dog waste. As previously mentioned, the dog waste receptacles would allow dog owners to safely dispose of their pets' waste in a centralized location. This goal would be accomplished by creating a slot in the receptacles where dog owners can place the soiled dog waste bags. By placing this type of signage on the receptacles, I hope this will enable positive behavior modification where dog owners they feel like they are making a difference in their community and for the environment by using the receptacles, rather than feeling like it is a burden.
Hi Adriana!
ReplyDeleteThe apartment complex that I used to live in had a similar system to what you are describing in your post. I definitely did not see as much dog waste compared to other places I lived at. My experience is on a smaller scale since your neighborhood is quite bigger than where I was. However, I wanted to provide some insight into the changes I saw from a solution like yours. You have a realistic solution that could be the answer to neighborhoods experiencing this issue. Great job on this post!
Hello Adriana,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your blog post and found it very interesting, especially given how many people face this problem of uncollected dog waste. I believe there is a very large opportunity to explored. I thought you did a great job giving a brief but detailed systematic description of your opportunity and the solution. I believe having a central area for disposing of animal waste will be key for individuals to form the habit of picking up after their pets. Great post!
Hey Adrianna,
ReplyDeleteI think that this is a great idea! In my neighborhood, I see many people walking their dogs and I usually see them pick up their dog's waste. On the other hand, I can see how this can be a problem when people are careless and then it's too late. Funding for plastic bags is a great solution to his problem. It makes the job easier, instead of going to find a bag in your own home.