Compostable dog poop bags aren't as biodegradable as you might think, University Distinguished Professor Ramani Narayan tells Discover Magazine. Compostable dog poop bags aren't panning out. "Biodegradability is the most used and abused term," said Ramani Narayan. The word carries little regulatory oversight and leaves customers thinking their purchase has a smaller impact on the environment than it does. Story featured in Discover Magazine.