Reducing Waste in National Parks Act

This bill pushes National Parks to cut down on disposable plastic, especially bottled water. Within 180 days of becoming law, the National Park Service must set up a program to reduce these plastics in every park region. Parks should stop selling water in disposable plastic and limit other disposable plastic items as much as possible, after looking at costs, safety, water access, and how to add bottle-refill stations and signs. Visitors will get clear information so they can bring reusable bottles and find refill spots easily. Parks that already stopped selling bottled water can keep that policy. The plan should be applied consistently across each park and included in agreements with concession stands and partner shops.

Every two years, each region must review how the program is working, including public feedback, visitor satisfaction with water access, buying habits, safety concerns like dehydration or unsafe water, and plastic bottle collection rates. They must send these reviews to National Park leadership. Input from public health experts and concession businesses is part of the process.

Key points

• Who is affected: Park visitors, National Park staff, and concession businesses in park units.
• What changes: Less sale of water in disposable plastic; more refill stations, clear signs, and visitor education; consistent rules across each park unit; ongoing reviews every two years.
• When: Program set up within 180 days of the law taking effect; reviews at least every two years after that.