I know it's a requirement because there are signs everywhere warning that if you don't clean up after your dog you could be fined. I also do it because there is little worse than stepping in poop left behind by the less considerate dog owner.

Despite being this rule abiding citizen I am still conflicted by the entire concept of picking up dog poo in a plastic bag.

First and foremost, I question the environmental implications.

Now surely it would be more suitable to grab a stick and carefully move my dog's droppings off the footpath and away from main walkways, to an area under a nearby tree or shrub. I could cover it with leaf debris so it was not unsightly.

I could ensure that it was out of the way of pedestrian traffic and I could leave it uncontained so that it could break down quickly. It's the breaking down concept that is my real sticking point.

Dog poo is organic and would break down quickly in the environment, but instead it has been deemed by the powers-that-be to wrap it in a plastic bag and drop it in the rubbish bin. Under these conditions this organic matter is now likely to hang around in landfill for years.

However, for those who choose to buck the rules, could you please at least make sure you don't leave the offending dropping on the footpath or in its vicinity.

Another concern I have with picking up dog poo in a plastic bag is the growing number of those who do this and then dump the bag on the ground or in a nearby shrub.

This seems to be an ever-increasing situation and my mind boggles at the logic of the people who do this. Surely once you've picked it up the hard work is done. Now you only need to carry it to the nearest bin.

Under these circumstances the plastic covered poo will still take forever to break down, but it is more likely to end up in nearby waterways with the potential to choke wildlife.

Maybe a few garbage bins located along common walkways could be helpful in stopping the dumping of poo filled bags.

Without a doubt the matter of cleaning up dog poo is a tricky one and some of the efforts, or lack of effort of people, stink.

What do you think can be done?