TELL CONGRESS: MAKE NATIONAL PARKS PLASTIC-FREE

Plastic has been found everywhere — from the deep ocean to the rain in our national parks. Unfortunately, the Department of the Interior recently ended a policy to reduce single-use plastics in our national parks and other important public lands.

Now we need Congress to act.

By ending the sale and distribution of single-use plastic products, such as plastic bags, beverage bottles, and foam foodware, across all 433 national park sites, including Grand Canyon, Acadia, Yellowstone, Channel Islands, and Denali National Parks, and supporting more water refill stations in the parks, Congress can protect our parks from plastic pollution.

Ask your members of Congress to make our national parks plastic-free.

petition text

Dear {contact_data~salutation},

I am your constituent, and I am asking you to protect our national parks from plastic pollution by supporting the Reducing Waste in National Parks Act (S.1926, and H.R.3604).

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 historically 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 fourth largest emitter of greenhouse gases.

Plastic pollution has no place in America’s treasured national parks. Congress should act to protect our parks by prohibiting 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 single-use plastic items sold and distributed within national parks, we will protect wildlife, safeguard the beauty of these special places, and alleviate the burden of waste management on National Park Service staff.

We need Congress to pass the Reducing Waste in National Parks Act (S.1926, H.R. 3604) so that we can share these treasured places with generations to come.

Sincerely,

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

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