CONGRESS: PHASE OUT SINGLE-USE PLASTIC IN U.S. NATIONAL PARKS

Plastic has been found everywhere — from the deep ocean to the rain in our national parks. Luckily, we have the opportunity to protect our treasured parks from plastic pollution. A new bill has been introduced in Congress that would reduce the single-use plastics polluting our national parks. We urge you to send a letter to your members of Congress to support this important bill so that our parks will be plastic-free.

The Reducing Waste in National Parks Act (S.2728/H.R.4561) introduced by Senator Jeff Merkley (OR) and Representative Mike Quigley (IL) would phase out the sale and distribution of single-use plastic products, such as plastic beverage bottles, bags, and foodware, across all 424 national park sites, including Grand Canyon, Acadia, Yellowstone, Channel Islands, and Denali National Parks. This bill would also encourage water refill stations in the parks.

U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland announced in June 2022 that single-use plastics will be phased out in all national parks and other federal lands managed by the Department of the Interior by 2032. But we can’t wait that long, and we can’t risk such an important policy being overturned with a new administration. Congress should pass this bill now to make sure the policy is permanent.

Ask your members of Congress to support the Reducing Waste in National Parks Act to permanently protect our national parks from plastic pollution. Please feel free to edit the letter text below.

petition text

Dear {contact_data~salutation},

I am your constituent, and I am asking you to cosponsor the Reducing Waste in National Parks Act (S.2728/H.R. 4561).

Each year, millions of people flock to our national parks to enjoy the beauty of nature and learn about history and culture. Unfortunately, these special places are being marred by single-use plastic. The very same unsightly plastic trash that impairs visitor experiences is also harmful to wildlife and ecosystems and costs National Park Service staff and volunteers considerable time and expense to collect and haul away.

Plastic is harmful to our oceans, communities, and climate. An estimated 33 billion pounds of plastic enter the oceans every year. Plastic production facilities and incinerators are often located in economically marginalized communities, where the facilities pollute residents’ air, water, and soil, and harm their health. Most plastics are made from petrochemicals derived from fossil fuels. If plastic were a country, it would be the fifth-largest emitter of greenhouse gases.

Plastic pollution has no place in America’s treasured national parks. The Reducing Waste in National Parks Act (S.2728/H.R.4561) would eliminate the sale and distribution of single-use plastic beverage bottles, bags, foodware, and foam products inside national parks, and encourage water refill stations. By reducing the amount of single-use plastic items sold and distributed within national parks, we will protect wildlife and the environment, and alleviate the burden of waste management on National Park Service staff.

Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland announced in June 2022 that single-use plastics will be phased out in all national parks as well as other federal lands managed by the Department of the Interior over 10 years. But the next president could reverse the ban, just as President Trump reversed a policy allowing national parks to ban single-use plastic water bottles. This is why we need Congress to pass this legislation to permanently ban single-use plastics in national parks.

Please cosponsor the Reducing Waste in National Parks Act so that we can share these special places with generations to come.

Sincerely,

{user_data~First Name} {user_data~Last Name}

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Background photo credit: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, taken under NOAA permit 20556-01