Parks Projects Links
DENALI NATIONAL PARK
A sample of the projects that Denali has implemented to reach the zero landfill goals
The Children Are Our Future
Knowing the power of youth in engaging people and shifting behaviors, the Denali Education Center worked with teachers and students at nearby Tri-Valley High School to start a Zero Landfill Ambassador Program (ZLAP). The student teams have had far reaching impact with the goal to reduce waste and increase recycling in the region.
Shouting from the Mountain Tops
Each year, more than two million people visit Alaska. Half a million of them include a trip to Denali National Park and Preserve. From travel booking sites to partnerships with travel associations and airlines to local business outreach and special events…the Denali Zero Landfill Team and community partners are sharing the ZLI message far and wide to reduce park and statewide waste to the landfill.
Engaging Denali’s Tourism Business Community
Husky Homestead led local businesses in integrated zero landfill into their operations and showcases their commitment in their programming, throughout their visitor operations, and in their retail/souvenir sales.
HollandAmerica Princess cruise lines have made substantial changes to reduce their environmental impacts and support broad adoption of the principals of the zero landfill initiative.
See More About Sustainability Effort of Community Businesses →
GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK
A sample of the projects that Grand Teton has implemented to reach the zero landfill goals
Potato, Potato…Collaborative Composting Pilot Key to Big Diversion Wins
Food waste, representing 31% of the waste stream at Grand Teton, had no near-term commercial composting options in the Tetons. Park concessioners got creative in a partnership with Teton County and the National Park Service. Together they launched a three-year pilot was executed, this tripled food waste diversion.
No Fueling Around – Managing Single Use Propane is a Challenge
In our national parks, single use 1lb propane canisters is a significant and challenging waste management issue. Several challenges exist in managing this waste stream including the cost per unit to recycle is more than 2x as much as the purchase of the fuel container and this expense lands on the National Park Service and local waste processors.
Plan Ahead and Prepare…Ready, Set, Reduce and Recycle
As part of a dynamic education and engagement campaign, the park service communications team created several stop-action videos being shown in the park and nearby Jackson, Wyoming to educate visitors and community members on how to have a zero waste to landfill visit to the national park.
See the Videos and Learn More About the Engagement Campaign →
From Websites to Trail Heads and Visitor Centers – Spreading the Word
National park campgrounds present some of the biggest waste diversion challenges. As part of a dynamic education and engagement effort, the National Park Service looked for creative touchpoints to reach park visitors. One quick win came in the installation of new durable picnic table topper signs for day use and campground locations. The toppers combine information on what materials are recyclable in the park and bear safety messaging.
Zero Waste Challenge
To support a larger culture shift, the NPS organized a Zero Waste Challenge in 2019. The challenge was conceptualized by the park’s green team as a way to engage park staff in sustainability efforts and encourage individuals to think critically about the daily waste impact they have on the environment.
Employees Lead the Way in Education and Engagement
Recognizing that employees are on the front line for education and engaging visitors, the NPS and its concessionaires ensure that year-round and seasonal employees receive a 101 on the importance of waste reduction and recycling and leading by example.
YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK
A sample of the projects that Yosemite has implemented to reach the zero landfill goals
Containers, Containers Everywhere…
In Yosemite National Park, installing hundreds of containers with standardized labeling was the priority for the NPS and has been key to nearly doubling the quantity of recyclables collected throughout the Yosemite Valley. With financial support from Subaru, the Yosemite NPS ZLI team ordered and installed more than 310 total new paired waste and recycling containers in peak visitor locations.
Special Events Spur ZLI Awareness and Engagement
Early in the project, the NPS and Yosemite Hospitality Zero Landfill Initiative teams jumped on long-standing special events to boost awareness and participation in park and community zero landfill efforts. Modeling easy to replicate events, the park team reached and empowered thousands of park visitors from around the globe to take action through their annual Earth Day and Yosemite Facelift events.
It’s a Wrap on Plastic Waste for Yosemite
Based on the ZLI 2016 Waste Composition Study commissioned by the National Parks Conservation Association, it was estimated that plastic film constituted 3.6% of the total waste. After years trying to find a recycling option, Yosemite was able to partner with Trex, a composite decking company and their Recycle Beyond the Bag program to tackle mounting plastic bags, shipping packaging and other plastic film waste.
No Butts About it…There are some hard to recycle materials out there
Digging deep to find items to recycle, all three ZLI pilot parks partnered with TerraCycle and others to tackle some hard to recycle materials. From gloves to snack wrappers and fishing line to cigarette butts, with a bit of ingenuity, there are some impressive diversion opportunities available.
A Bridge to Yosemite and California Youth
Founded in 1971, Nature Bridge is the largest education partner of the National Park Service, and with a significant presence in the region, the non-profit ZLI partner has reached 25 schools and engaged 189 students in the Yosemite Gateway with classroom waste audits, landfill tours, litter pick-up and analysis, creation of educational posters and upcycled reusable totes and the expansion of Terracycle and recycling programs in their schools.