Plastic waste, non-recyclable or compostable food packaging, and paper cups form the largest portion of waste sent to landfills from US national parks, according to a study conducted by Subaru America in conjunction with National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA).
The automaker explained that the survey’s findings indicating that a majority of Americans (59%) were unaware of the waste management challenges facing national parks across the country.
As National Park Service celebrates its centenary the Subaru National Park Survey explored attitudes and behaviours of park goers. The results found that that, while most are unaware of the issue, more than four in five (84%) would be willing to make a significant effort to reduce the amount of trash left in parks.
In addition to the Subaru National Park Survey, Subaru and NPCA recently concluded an in-depth waste characterisation study. It said that this study demonstrated that a significant portion of the waste that the National Park Service (NPS) manages nationally is brought in from outside the park – with a small range of everyday items being the biggest issue.
NPS manages more than 100 million pounds (45,000 metric tonnes) of waste nationally, much of which is generated by serving more than 300 million park visitors per year.
This number is in addition to waste managed by park concessioners, which provide accommodations, food services, retail operations and transportation to visitors.
According to Subaru, even with numerous park programs currently in place to manage the waste such as GreenLine News Update, WebRanger Trash Talkin’, and Leave No Trace, the total amount of waste generated each year would fill the Statue of Liberty more than 1800 times.
Waste Characterisation
The waste characterisation study examined pilot parks Yosemite, Grand Teton and Denali to identify top drivers of waste sent to landfills.
Denali has established a Zero Landfill Youth Ambassador Program to support employee and visitor education programs, Grand Teton has led the park service in dedicating employees to waste diversion, and to increase Yosemite’s already high waste diversion levels, dozens of new recycling and trash containers have been installed in more high-traffic visitor locations.
All three pilot parks have committed to adopting the standardised recycling labels from Recycle Across America which were said to have been proven to increase recycling levels, reduce confusion at the bin and make it easier for park visitors to recycle correctly.
Subaru National Park Survey Results
Taking the results of Subaru and NPCA’s waste characterisation study into account, Subaru said that its survey of those who have visited national parks examined their waste and recycling habits while there, explored misconceptions about the amount and types of waste generated at parks and surveyed park goers’ attitudes and behaviour toward helping tackle these issues.
Awareness
Respondents were asked about their awareness of national parks’ waste management challenges and how far they would be willing to go to help.
While many believe that Millennials are the most environmentally conscious generation, the results showed that both Generation X (57%) and Baby Boomers (58%) are 50% more likely than Millennials (42%) to do everything they can to help reduce park waste
Those in the Midwest and South say they are more likely than those in the West to do everything they can to help reduce park waste.
Visitor Waste and Recycling Habits
The survey explored park visitors’ knowledge and usage of recycling facilities at national parks.
More than two-thirds (67%) of visitors make use of park recycling facilities
Less than half of park visitors (49%) sort trash and recycling into separate containers before leaving the park
Only two in five (40%) take their trash with them when leaving
Packaging and Water Bottle Usage
The survey also studied what type of waste is brought into national parks by visitors and examined their willingness to change their behaviours to help reduce garbage left behind.
More than four in five (82%) visitors consume food or drinks within parks, with slightly more than half (53%) purchased within the park
Millennials are more likely than older generations (65% vs. 48%) to buy food or drink inside parks
Although more than one-third (35%) of park visitors drink from disposable water bottles, nearly four out of five (79%) visitors would support the removal of single use water bottles in national parks if it would significantly help reduce waste
Those that utilise disposable water bottles say convenience (68%) is the number one reason for using them.
Make a Difference
While waste is a major issue in the parks, Subaru said that visitors can make a difference. NPCA conducted research which examined aspects as diverse as analytics to ‘dumpster-diving’ and developed a set of tips that visitors can adopt to help reduce some of the biggest contributors to landfills from national parks, including paper, plastics and glass.
For those planning a trip to the parks here’s the researcher’s top tips:
Opt for Online
While paper maps can be a parks staple, there are smartphone apps that provide the same information and more. Even without cell service, some national park apps will give helpful information about where you can spot wildlife or catch a beautiful sunset.
Mug for the Parks
Bring a reusable coffee mug from home or buy one from the souvenir shop to help reduce the 58 billion paper cups are sent to America’s landfills every year.
Americans throw away 2.5 million plastic bottles every hour. Keep a refillable water bottle on hand or buy one at gift shop, while taking advantage of convenient refilling stations around the park.
Help reduce waste by not taking a plastic bag for your souvenirs or groceries that you bring into the parks. Instead, bring your own reusable bag or tote for your items to help eliminate plastic bag waste.
Think about what you bring in. Check to see if it can be recycled or composted in the park you are visiting. If it cannot, try to take it home. It is often far easier to recycle near your home than in rural park areas.
BYOB (Bring Your Own Bottle)
Ditch the Plastic Bag
Take Out What You Bring In
“If visitors to national parks took steps to lessen their environmental footprint, it would make a significant difference in addressing these waste challenges,” commented Theresa Pierno, president and CEO of National Parks Conservation Association.
“The actions we take now, whether it’s drinking from reusable water bottles instead of buying plastic ones or taking out what you take into the park, will make an impact for generations to come. By working together – with parks, visitors, concessioners and Subaru – we can make meaningful progress to further reduce waste that parks send to landfills,” concluded Pierno.
Thomas J. Doll, president and chief operating officer, Subaru of America, Inc. added: “We hope these new studies shed light on the lack of awareness of this important issue, but also show that Americans are willing to make a concerted effort to help address it.”
A short film exploring the issues can be viewed below.
