Last week, Grand Canyon National Park announced they would eliminate the sale of disposable water bottles in the park. The plan will go into affect within 30 days under a plan approved by National Park Service Intermountain Regional Director John Wessels.
The park will increase the amount of free water filling stations for reusable water bottles, which they plan to sell around the park.
The new plan was put in place to encourage further recycling and environmental sustainability within in the park. All plastic water containers smaller than one gallon will not be sold within the park in any capacity. Estimates say the waste associated with disposable water bottles make up roughly 20% of the park’s trash and about 30% of recyclables.
“Our parks should set the standard for resource protection and sustainability,” said Wessels in a press release. “Grand Canyon National Park has provided an excellent analysis of the impacts the elimination of bottled water would have, and has developed a well-thought-out plan for ensuring that the safety, needs and comfort of visitors continue to be met in the park. I feel confident that the impacts to park concessioners and partners have been given fair consideration and that this plan can be implemented with minimal impacts to the visiting public.”
This isn’t the first time Grand Canyon has experimented with reduction of environmental impact, especially related to waste reduction.
To read the National Park Services policy regarding plastic waste reduction click here.
More information about Grand Canyon’s reusable water bottle program can be found here.
