Zürich urges cat owners to switch from mineral litter

The canton of Zurich is advising cat owners to switch from conventional mineral litter to plant-based alternatives, SRF reported. Mineral litter is disposed of with household waste but cannot be burned completely at waste incineration plants. Its non-combustible remains must then be stored in specialised landfills.

In Switzerland, used cat litter must be disposed of with regular household waste because it may contain pathogens. The waste is sent to a waste incineration plant, where bentonite litter leaves behind slag made up of minerals and metals.

According to estimates by Zurich’s Office for Waste, Water, Energy and Air, mineral cat litter may account for up to 10 percent of all slag produced by the canton’s incineration plants. That amounts to about 9,000 tonnes, or 450 truckloads, each year in Zurich alone.

Conventional litter is usually made from the clay mineral bentonite, which absorbs liquids and forms solid clumps. The material must be mined worldwide, dried using large amounts of energy and processed into granules.

Zurich’s authorities say landfill capacity is becoming increasingly scarce. Although new landfills and expansions of existing facilities are planned, the canton’s building authorities say the planning and approval procedures are lengthy and complex.

Plant-based litter made from renewable materials such as wood fibres, wood chips or grain residues burns almost completely in incineration plants. It therefore produces far less slag and also contributes to energy generation for district heating and electricity. According to the building authorities, plant-based products reliably absorb liquids and can form compact clumps, depending on the product.