Rescinded
8/16/2017
A5623
(0130)
Dec 14 2001
Policy
Memorandum 11-03
To: Regional Directors
From: Director /s/ Jonathan B. Jarvis
Subject: Disposable Plastic Water Bottle Recycling
and Reduction
A.
Background
When considered on a life-cycle basis, the use of disposable
plastic water bottles has significant environmental impact compared to the use
of local tap water and refillable bottles.
These impacts may be magnified in remote national parks because of the
additional transportation, waste disposal, energy use, and litter removal
factors inherent in these locations.
The
issues surrounding plastic water bottles are complex. Banning the sale of water bottles in national
parks has great symbolism, but runs counter to our healthy food initiative as
it eliminates the healthiest choice for bottled drinks, leaving sugary drinks
as a primary alternative. A ban could
pose challenges for diabetics and others with health issues who come to a park
expecting bottled water to be readily available. For parks without access to running water,
filling stations for reusable bottles are impractical. A ban could affect visitor safety; proper
hydration is key to planning a safe two-hour hike or a multi-day backcountry
excursion. Even reasonably priced
reusable water bottles may be out of reach for some visitors, especially those
with large families.
For these reasons, the National Park Service will implement
a disposable plastic water bottle recycling and reduction policy, with an
option to eliminate sales on a park-by-park basis following an extensive review
and with the prior approval of the regional director.
Such a policy will allow the NPS and park partners to reduce
their environmental footprint, introduce visitors to green products and the
concept of environmentally responsible purchasing, and give them the
opportunity to take that environmental ethic home and apply it in their daily
lives. It will also be a significant
step in reducing our carbon footprint and meeting A Call to Action Goal #23, Go Green.
B.
Policy
and Requirements
Recycling:
Parks are strongly encouraged to have a robust recycling program. The plastics found in disposable water
bottles are fully recyclable, and parks should have ample and well designed,
distributed, and marked collection facilities.
The work of collecting, sorting, and transporting recyclables from parks
to regional recycling centers may not always “pay for itself,” but it is still
the right thing to do.
Reduction:
Parks are strongly encouraged to reduce the sale of disposable plastic
water bottles through visitor education on the environmental impact of
purchasing decisions and the availability of reasonably priced reusable bottles
which can be filled at water fountains or bottle refill stations.
Elimination:
Where appropriate, superintendents may request approval from their
regional director to eliminate the sale of water in disposable plastic bottles
by analyzing and addressing the following factors—in writing:
·
Amount of waste eliminated and
pros/cons to overall park operations
·
Infrastructure costs and funding
source(s) for filling stations
·
Contractual implications on
concessioners, including considerations of new leaseholder surrender interest
or possessory interest
·
Operational costs of filling stations
including utilities and regular public health testing
·
Cost and availability of BPA-free
reusable containers
·
Effect on concessioner and cooperating
association sales revenue
·
Availability of water within concession
food service operations
·
Visitor education in the park and
online so that visitors may come prepared with their own water bottles
·
Results of consultation with NPS Public
Health Office
·
A sign plan so that visitors can easily
find filling stations
·
Safety considerations for visitors who
may resort to not carrying enough water or drinking from surface water sources
with potential exposure to disease
·
A system for annual evaluation of the
program, including public response, visitor satisfaction, buying behavior,
public safety, and plastic collection rates
·
Results of consultation with
concessioners and cooperating associations
·
Timeline of phase in period
Education: Parks must develop a proactive
visitor education strategy that addresses visitor expectations and explains the
rationale for whatever plastic bottle reduction, recycling, or elimination
effort is implemented.
Disposable plastic bottle recycling, reduction, or
elimination decisions should be implemented at all applicable operations so
there is consistency throughout the park and parity from one operation to the
next. These procedures should be
incorporated into the concessioner operating plan, cooperating association
scope of sales, and other organizations operating within the park.
C.
Existing
Activities
Parks that have already successfully implemented programs to
install refill stations and eliminate the sale of disposable plastic beverage
containers may continue, but must address the above factors—in writing—to their
regional director, including a system for annual evaluation.
D.
New
Concession Contracts
With the approval of the regional director and after
conducting the analysis described above, parks may prohibit the sale of
disposable water bottles as a term of a new concession contract.
E.
Monitoring
and Continuous Improvement
This policy will be monitored to determine its park and
Servicewide environmental impact, visitor welfare, acceptance, and support, and
effects on concessioners and cooperating associations. The NPS will also continue to reach out to
producers and suppliers and the scientific community to gather information on
environmental impacts, new technologies and industry best practices and may
pilot new ideas where appropriate. The
disposable water bottle alternatives strategy will be revisited periodically
based on these data to determine if a change in the strategy is desirable or
necessary.
F.
Limitation
This policy is intended only to
improve the internal management of the NPS, and is not intended to, and does
not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law
or equity by a party against the United States, its departments, agencies,
instrumentalities or entities, its officers or employees, or any other person.
G.
Related
Policies
This policy supplements other policies relating to
environmental leadership, waste reduction, and recycling, particularly those
found in sections 1.8, 9.1.6, and 10.2.4.5 of Management Policies 2006.
H.
Further
Information
For information on this policy or other tools and resources,
please contact Kurt Rausch, Commercial Services Program at 202-513-7202 or
Shawn Norton, Park Facility Management Division at 202-354-1835.
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of Policy Memorandum----------