Reducing Waste in National Parks Act
- Sponsor
- Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
- Committees
- Energy and Natural Resources Committee (primary)
- Last action
- Dec 9, 2025
Bottom line
This bill aims to significantly reduce plastic waste within National Parks by phasing out disposable plastic products, particularly plastic water bottles, while ensuring visitor safety and education through a structured program and regular evaluation.
What it actually does
This bill mandates the National Park Service (NPS) Director to establish a program for reducing disposable plastic products in National Park System units within 180 days of enactment. It requires regional directors to eliminate the sale of water in disposable plastic products and the sale and distribution of other disposable plastic products to the greatest extent feasible, considering various operational and visitor safety factors. The bill also mandates proactive visitor education strategies and biennial evaluations of the program's effectiveness and impact.
Proponents argue
Proponents argue this bill is a crucial step towards protecting national parks from plastic pollution, preserving their natural beauty, and setting a positive example for environmental stewardship. They emphasize the long-term ecological benefits of reducing plastic waste, which harms wildlife and ecosystems, and the potential for increased visitor awareness and adoption of sustainable practices, aligning park policies with broader environmental goals.
Opponents contend
Opponents might raise concerns about the practical challenges and potential negative impacts on visitor experience and concessioner revenue. They could argue that eliminating disposable plastic products, especially bottled water, might inconvenience visitors, particularly in remote areas or during hot weather, potentially leading to dehydration or reliance on unsafe water sources. Concerns about the financial burden of installing and maintaining refill stations and the impact on small businesses operating within the parks could also be voiced.
The bill is concise and can be read quickly, allowing ample time for stakeholders to understand its core provisions and implications.
Section 2(a)
Establishment of Disposable Plastic Products Reduction Program
This section requires the Director of the National Park Service to establish a program within 180 days of the bill's enactment to reduce disposable plastic products across the entire National Park System. Each regional director is then responsible for implementing this program within the park units located in their respective regions.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue this provision establishes a clear mandate and a necessary framework for addressing plastic waste, ensuring a consistent and coordinated approach to environmental stewardship across all national parks.
Critics contend
No specific opposition is typically raised against the establishment of a program framework itself, though the specifics of its implementation and associated costs might draw criticism.
Tradeoffs
This provision balances the desire for comprehensive environmental protection with the administrative burden and logistical challenges of establishing a new, system-wide program.
Section 2(b)
Phased Elimination of Disposable Plastic Products
This provision mandates regional directors to eliminate the sale of water in disposable plastic products and the sale and distribution of other disposable plastic products to the 'greatest extent feasible' within their park units. This elimination must be informed by considering 13 specific factors, including operational costs, waste reduction potential, infrastructure needs for refill stations, contractual implications with concessioners, visitor safety, and public health input.
Section 2(c)
Proactive Visitor Education Strategy
Regional directors are required to develop and implement a proactive visitor education strategy for their respective park units. This strategy aims to address visitor expectations regarding water availability and to clearly explain the rationale behind the plastic reduction program and its implementation within the unit.
Section 2(e)
Biennial Program Evaluation and Reporting
Every two years, each regional director must conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the plastic reduction program within their relevant park unit. This evaluation must assess public response, visitor satisfaction with water availability, changes in buying behavior related to disposable plastic products, public safety (including cases of dehydration or disease from surface water), and disposable plastic bottle collection rates. The results of this evaluation are then submitted to the NPS Director and the Secretary of the Interior.
Requires regional directors to eliminate disposable plastic products 'to the greatest extent feasible' after considering 13 specific factors, including costs, waste reduction, infrastructure, contractual implications, visitor safety, and public health.
Section 2(b)(1)
Why it matters:This is standard legislative practice to provide flexibility and practical guidance for implementation, acknowledging that a blanket ban might not be universally applicable or desirable across the diverse National Park System.
Case for: Supporters argue this clause provides necessary flexibility, allowing park units to tailor implementation to their unique operational challenges, visitor demographics, and environmental conditions, ensuring the program is practical and sustainable.
Case against: Critics might argue that the 'greatest extent feasible' clause and the numerous factors could be interpreted broadly, potentially allowing regional directors to avoid significant reductions if they prioritize other factors over waste elimination, thus weakening the bill's overall intent.
Estimated impact: This clause significantly influences the actual scope and speed of plastic product elimination across the National Park System, determining how many parks and how extensively they will reduce plastic waste.
Defines 'disposable plastic products' to include disposable plastic beverage bottles, carryout bags made from film plastic, plastic food ware (including products marketed as compostable or biodegradable), and expanded polystyrene products.
Section 2(f)(2)
Why it matters:This is standard legislative practice to define terms for clarity and to establish the precise scope of the bill's application. The comprehensive nature of this definition is substantively important.
Case for: Proponents argue that a comprehensive definition is essential to address the full spectrum of plastic waste, preventing loopholes where certain types of plastic might be excluded, and promoting a holistic approach to waste reduction.
Case against: Critics might argue that including items like 'plastic food ware marketed as compostable or biodegradable' could be overly restrictive if those products genuinely offer environmental benefits in certain contexts or if alternatives are not readily available or cost-effective.
Estimated impact: This broad definition ensures a more significant reduction in overall plastic waste within parks, impacting a wider range of products and potentially requiring more extensive operational changes for concessioners.