Plastic Waste In Parks: A Growing Concern

Plastic waste is a pressing issue in parks, with plastic items making up a significant proportion of waste found in these spaces. A 2023 report revealed that plastic constituted 81% of all waste recorded in US national parks and public lands, with food and drink-related items comprising 45% of this waste. This waste includes plastic bottles, bags, wrappers, and other packaging materials, which can have detrimental effects on the environment and wildlife. To address this issue, there have been efforts to reduce single-use plastics, improve waste management, and promote recycling initiatives in parks. While progress is being made, the presence of plastic waste in parks remains a concern, highlighting the need for continued action to mitigate its environmental impact.

Plastic makes up 81% of waste in US national parks

Plastic waste is a significant issue in parks, and it has been found that plastic items make up 81% of all waste recorded across US national parks. This is supported by a 2022 report from TrashBlitz, which analysed waste found in US national parks and public lands. The report highlighted the urgent need to address single-use plastic pollution, which accounts for a large proportion of the waste.

The National Park Service and its concessioners manage about 80 million pounds of waste annually, and plastic waste is a significant contributor to this. This includes plastic bottles, bags, food packaging, and other single-use plastic items. The issue is not limited to national parks, as plastic waste is also a pervasive problem in oceans and beaches, with microplastics being a particular concern. These tiny pieces of plastic, often less than a quarter of an inch in size, can be ingested by marine life and enter the ocean's food webs, eventually ending up on our dinner plates.

To address this issue, the National Park Service and various organisations have implemented initiatives to reduce plastic waste. This includes the installation of refilling stations, encouraging the use of reusable water bottles and shopping bags, and promoting recycling. Some parks have also introduced zero-landfill programmes, emphasising waste reduction, recycling, and composting. These efforts are aligned with the Department of Interior Order 3407, signed in June 2022, which aims to phase out the sale of single-use plastics in national parks and other public lands by 2032.

Despite these efforts, plastic pollution remains a persistent problem in US national parks. A community research project, Plastic-Free Parks TrashBlitz, found that food and drink-related items made up 45% of the total trash recorded, with cigarette butts, plastic bottles, bottle caps, and textiles among the most common items. The project also identified top corporate plastic polluters, including Coca-Cola, Nestle, and PepsiCo.

The presence of plastic waste in parks not only detracts from the natural beauty of these spaces but also poses a threat to the fragile ecosystems and wildlife that inhabit them. It is crucial that visitors to parks dispose of their waste properly and support the efforts to reduce, reuse, and recycle plastic items.

Food and drink-related items make up 45% of plastic waste in parks

Plastic waste is a significant issue in parks, with 81% of all waste found in US national parks and public lands being plastic. This includes coastal national parks, where plastic waste poses a threat to the oceans and the wildlife that inhabits them. Food and drink-related items make up 45% of plastic waste in parks, with items such as plastic bottles, food wrappers, and bottle caps being commonly found.

The prevalence of plastic waste in parks is a pressing issue that requires attention and action. Plastic pollution in these natural spaces not only detracts from their beauty but also poses a danger to the environment and wildlife. The issue is not limited to the parks themselves, as plastic waste can be transported through the air and released when ice caps melt, ultimately ending up in oceans and other water bodies. This transportation of plastic waste contributes to the growing plastic pollution in our oceans, which affects marine life and ecosystems.

To address this issue, there have been efforts to reduce the use of single-use plastics in parks. Many national parks now offer refilling stations for water bottles and encourage visitors to bring their own reusable bottles and shopping bags. Some parks have also implemented initiatives to reduce waste, such as the "Don't Feed the Landfills" initiative, which received the 2020 Silver Halo Award in the "Best Sustainability Initiative" category. This program, a collaboration between Subaru of America and the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), has kept more than 16 million pounds of waste out of landfills.

Despite these efforts, the presence of plastic waste in parks persists. The data from the Plastic-Free Parks TrashBlitz project, conducted by the 5 Gyres Institute and partners, underscores the urgent need for policy changes and legislation to address single-use plastic in national parks. The results of this community science project, which tracked plastic pollution in US national parks, revealed that food and drink-related items comprised 45% of the total trash recorded. This data highlights the significant contribution of food and drink packaging to the plastic waste problem in parks.

To accelerate progress in reducing plastic waste in parks, a combination of approaches is necessary. In addition to policy changes and initiatives, improving waste management strategies is crucial. This includes increasing access to recycling options and ensuring proper disposal of waste. By addressing the issue from multiple angles, we can work towards reducing the presence of plastic waste in our parks and protecting the natural environment for future generations.

Cigarette butts, food wrappers, plastic bottles, bottle caps, and textiles are the most common items found

Plastic waste is a pressing issue in parks, with 81% of waste found in US national parks and public lands being plastic. This waste includes items such as cigarette butts, food wrappers, plastic bottles, bottle caps, and textiles. These items are commonly used and disposed of irresponsibly, leading to pollution and environmental degradation.

Cigarette butts are a significant contributor to plastic waste in parks. Despite being small, they contain plastic fibres that can take years to decompose. These butts are often littered on the ground or thrown into waterways, impacting the aesthetics of parks and harming local wildlife.

Food wrappers, such as candy wrappers or chip packets, are another common item found in parks. These wrappers are typically made from non-biodegradable materials, including plastic and foil, which can take centuries to break down. Visitors to parks may discard these wrappers carelessly, leading to unsightly litter and potential harm to the natural environment.

Plastic bottles and bottle caps are also frequently found in parks. Single-use plastic bottles are a major source of plastic pollution, with many ending up in landfills or natural areas. Bottle caps, made from plastic resins, are often not recycled properly and can become a choking hazard for wildlife.

Textiles, such as synthetic clothing fibres, are another unexpected source of plastic pollution in parks. When washed, these textiles can shed microfibers that are too small to be caught in washing machine filters and end up in oceans and waterways, where they can be ingested by marine life.

Addressing the prevalence of these items in parks requires a multi-faceted approach. Educating visitors about proper waste disposal and the impact of plastic pollution is essential. Providing recycling bins and encouraging the use of reusable water bottles and shopping bags can also help reduce plastic waste. Additionally, supporting legislation and policies that phase out single-use plastics and promote sustainable alternatives is crucial in mitigating plastic pollution in parks.

Coca-Cola, Nestle, and PepsiCo are among the top 10 brands identified as plastic polluters

Plastic waste is a significant issue in parks, with 81% of all waste found in US national parks and public lands being plastic. This waste includes plastic bottles, plastic bags, and food packaging, which often end up in landfills or as litter in parks. To address this issue, there have been efforts to reduce the use of single-use plastics in parks, such as providing refillable water bottle stations and encouraging visitors to bring their own reusable water bottles and shopping bags.

Coca-Cola, Nestle, and PepsiCo have been identified as some of the top corporate plastic polluters globally for multiple years in a row. This ranking is based on brand audits conducted by Break Free From Plastic and Greenpeace, which identified these companies' products and packaging as significant contributors to plastic pollution. The audits revealed that Coca-Cola, Nestle, and PepsiCo have offered mostly false solutions to the plastics crisis, such as replacing plastic with paper or bioplastics and relying on an ineffective global recycling system.

In 2020, Coca-Cola was ranked as the world's number one plastic polluter by Break Free From Plastic, with its beverage bottles being the most frequently found discarded on beaches, rivers, parks, and other litter sites in 51 out of 55 nations surveyed. The other two companies, PepsiCo and Nestle, also had a significant presence in the litter collected, with 5,155 and 8,633 pieces of branded plastic waste, respectively.

The plastic waste generated by these companies has severe environmental consequences. According to a 2017 study, up to 91% of all plastic waste ever produced has not been recycled and has ended up in incinerators, landfills, or the natural environment. This waste pollutes oceans, lakes, rivers, and soil, and can even enter our drinking water and food chains through microplastics.

To address the plastic pollution crisis, it is crucial to hold these corporations accountable and demand an end to their reliance on single-use plastic packaging. Instead, they should focus on implementing reusable and refillable systems for their products and supporting waste reduction initiatives.

The National Park Service manages about 80 million pounds of waste annually

Plastic pollution is a pressing issue for national parks, with plastic constituting a significant portion of the waste found in these spaces. The National Park Service and its park concessioners manage about 80 million pounds of waste annually, which is roughly equivalent to 182 Statues of Liberty. This waste includes plastic bottles, plastic bags, and food packaging, which are all forms of single-use plastic that contribute to the degradation of park ecosystems.

The presence of plastic waste in national parks is not limited to the items themselves but extends to the toxic effects of plastic degradation. Microplastics, which are tiny plastic particles, can be released from larger plastics or created through the breakdown of plastic items. These microplastics are pervasive in the environment, including oceans, lakes, rivers, soil, and even the air we breathe. They have been detected in various consumables, such as salt, beer, and drinking water. The National Park Service's Ocean Program coordinator for the Southeast region, Anna Toline, affirms the ubiquity of microplastics.

The impact of microplastics on aquatic ecosystems is particularly concerning. A 2013 study revealed that when organisms such as fish ingest these tiny plastic particles, they also absorb the toxins attached to them, leading to an increased likelihood of tumors and liver damage. Furthermore, smaller plastics, like microplastics, are more pervasive in the ecosystem. Filter feeders, such as zooplankton, shellfish, and coral, consume microplastics, causing the toxins to accumulate and move up the food chain.

To address the plastic waste problem in national parks, several initiatives have been undertaken. The National Park Service has implemented a zero-landfill pilot program in three national parks: Yosemite, Grand Teton, and Denali. This program focuses on waste reduction through source reduction, recycling, and composting. In the first five years of the program, it successfully kept more than 16 million pounds of waste out of landfills. Additionally, the Park Service is working with partners like Subaru of America and NPCA to expand similar initiatives to other parks.

Beyond waste management, there is a growing emphasis on reducing the use of single-use plastics in national parks. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland issued an order in June 2022 to phase out single-use plastics on Department of the Interior-managed lands, including national parks, by 2032. This order includes reducing the procurement, sale, and distribution of items such as food and beverage containers, bottles, straws, and disposable plastic bags. The National Park Service and its vendors are actively working towards achieving plastic-free parks, and visitors are encouraged to support these efforts by choosing reusable alternatives and properly disposing of and recycling any plastic items they use.

Frequently asked questions