5 Gyres Institute | Fourth Annual Plastic-Free Parks Trashblitz

We’ve long been told to “leave no trace” when enjoying parks and other natural areas, and while this is an important rule to follow, we must go beyond it to truly address plastic pollution in U.S. national parks. 

This August marks the 108th birthday of the U.S. National Park Service. As summer winds down in the Northern Hemisphere, many people are enjoying the more temperate weather by engaging in outdoor activities. In 2023, people paid more than 325 million visits to U.S. national parks and other federally protected lands. Unfortunately, pollution from the fossil fuel, petrochemical, and plastics industries, as well as trash left behind by visitors to the parks, puts these delicate ecosystems in jeopardy.

Plastic pollution in the natural environment is increasing, along with plastic production—which is also on the rise. The National Park Service reports that 70 million tons of trash—that’s 155 times the weight of the Statue of Liberty—accumulate on public lands each year. According to 5 Gyres’ TrashBlitz Report, a community science campaign encouraging the public to gather data on plastic pollution and trash in natural places, more than half of this trash is plastic. Most people agree that plastic pollution doesn’t belong in nature. In fact, about 82% of U.S. voters support ending the sale of single-use plastics in national parks.

The Sources & Impacts of Plastic Pollution in National Parks

Plastic pollution in nature does not solely come from tourists or visitors, and many people know to follow the “leave no trace” ethic, bringing out whatever they bring in. Yet littering continues to be a source of plastic pollution in parks and natural areas, and plastic also washes in from shorelines and down rivers. Research on tidal areas in 35 national parks found microplastics in all locations sampled. Plastic particles and industrial chemicals are carried by weather. Plastic pollution can also build up from work that borders parks, such as construction, drilling, mining, and tree logging.

While the National Park Service is clearly aware of the issue of plastic pollution, its heavy focus on “litter” and individual action is outdated and problematically aligned with industry messaging. We now know that plastic pollution is a problem created by the fossil fuel, petrochemical, and plastics industries, and, while individuals should not litter, these industries must also stop making huge quantities of polluting plastic.

Plastic items choke and entangle animals, damage and kill plants, and can injure people. Alex Casamassima, a photographer and assistant supervisor on a Washington Conservation Corps ecological restoration crew who hikes in parks during his down time told Plastic Pollution Coalition (PPC) Intern Gabrielle Gomez that the most popular trails he frequents are often polluted by pieces of plastic and microplastics. Microplastics are easily ingested by birds and other animals—including people; are absorbed by plants; and pose dangers as they leach chemicals into waters, soils, and living beings. There are more than 16,000 chemicals found in plastics, at least 4,200 of which are already known to be hazardous to people and nature, causing a wide range of serious health issues. Casamassima says that he also sees a wide variety of plastic items in parks, including fast food containers and plastic beverage bottles, and even shoes, as well as more surprising items like plastic bread bags dating back to the 1960s.

Take Action to Protect Natural Places from Plastic Pollution

1. Leave No Trace

The “leave no trace” ethic is a helpful guide to encouraging people to minimize their impacts on natural areas by not leaving anything behind. Although the exact origin of these wilderness manners is not known, “leave no trace” has been more prevalently used since the 1960s coinciding with an increase in outdoor recreation. By remembering the phrase “pack it in, pack it out,” and by tapping into plastic-free reusable solutions, outdoor recreators can easily prevent plastic pollution.

2. Choose Real Plastic-Free Solutions

Any time plastic is brought outside, accidents happen, like losing a tiny piece of a granola bar wrapper. All that plastic adds up. Some mistakenly believe that plastic, bioplastics, paper, and even pieces of food can easily disperse in the environment or be recycled, but this is not what happens in reality. Plastics and bioplastics both break up into smaller particles and contain toxic chemicals that harm humans and other animals, plants, and ecosystems, and recycling these materials is not a viable solution.

Aside from clearing up such misconceptions, engaging in real solutions for plastic-free recreation is key. The best way to prevent plastic pollution is to tap into plastic-free principles—reuse, refill, repair, share, and regenerate—whether you’re at home or out enjoying national parks and other outdoor spaces. Some sturdy items that you can take on your outdoor adventures include reusable metal or wooden containers, reusable stainless steel water bottles, and an “urban pack kit,” which can also be taken on short hikes and outdoor excursions. Instead of bringing single-use packaged foods, prepare homemade meals and snacks to carry in your reusable containers.

3. Share Resources and Solutions

Help educate others about plastic pollution prevention; share resources with friends and family. Join 5 Gyres’ TrashBlitz and Plastic-Free Parks campaign to help gather data on how plastic pollution and other trash is affecting U.S. natural spaces. Casamassima says incentives and education are also key to helping reduce plastic pollution, as is tapping into individuals’ personal connections to nature.

You have to connect with people where they care about it. Just saying plastic is not great for the environment does not work for everyone. Indigenous peoples have a cultural and spiritual and ancestral connection to the land; when you leave your trash you’re disrespecting not only the land but Indigenous peoples—the land is sacred.

— Alex Casamassima, Photographer and Assistant Supervisor, Washington Conservation Corps

4. Support Policies that Stop Plastic Pollution at the Source

There is evidence that policies stopping the sale and distribution of single-use plastic items in parks can help reduce plastic pollution. In the U.S., the 2011 to 2017 ban on selling single-use plastic water bottles prevented at least 2 million bottles from polluting national parks. While the timeline could be shorter, in 2022, the Department of Interior took a major step forward by implementing a 10-year plan to eliminate single-use plastics across its bureaus, including in public parks, wildlife refuges, and other public lands. The news came after more than 300 organizations and nearly 70,000 individuals called on the Department of the Interior to take action, and lawmakers continue to introduce new initiatives that would help more rapidly end plastic pollution in parks.

Additionally, it’s essential that global policies shift systems to reduce plastic production, which in turn will reduce plastic pollution everywhere. Real solutions to plastic pollution start at the source, that’s why—in addition to embracing the “leave no trace” ethic—it’s also important to support policies like the Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act, a proposal aimed at tackling the plastic crisis by holding producers accountable, phasing out certain single-use plastics, and establishing a national deposit program for beverage containers. The bill sets ambitious targets for recycling and composting, bans the export of plastic waste to developing countries, and addresses environmental justice issues. It also supports federal research into alternative materials and launches public awareness campaigns to educate the public about the impact of plastic pollution.