Trump Administration Overturns Obama Policy To Discourage Water Bottles at National Parks

Plastic water bottle in nature. Not a good fit.

The National Park Service announced on August 16 that it would discontinue a policy in 2011 that encouraged national parks to eliminate the sale of disposable water bottles. The stated reason for rescinding the policy is that “hydration options for recreationalists, hikers, and other visitors to national parks” have been expanded. The NPS pointed out that the 2011 policy “removed the healthiest beverage choice at a variety of parks while still allowing sales of bottled sweetened drinks.”

The NPS concluded in an internal review that banning disposable bottles while selling soda and other sugary drinks that come in disposable bottles does not make sense. But Lauren DeRusha Florez, associate campaign director at Corporate Accountability International calls that a “false choice.” She added that “what this policy had done is increase access to free tap water and make available reusable water bottles.”

The revocation of the policy became effective immediately. The NPS says it will continue to promote recycling disposable plastic water bottles. Many parks have free water in bottle filling stations at visitors centers and near trailheads. But is that enough?

Only 20 percent of the Grand Canyon’s estimated waste stream are disposable plastic bottles, but they only account for 30 percent of the park’s recyclables, according to a 2012 press release by the NPS. That same press release stated that disposable plastic water bottles were one of the biggest contributors to garbage below the park’s rim. Filling a reusable water bottle means that less garbage winds up in the waste stream. Reusable souvenir water bottles from the Grand Canyon only cost “as little as $2.50,” the press release points out. Twenty-three NPS sites, out of 417, implemented the policy, including the Grand Canyon.

Plastic water bottles and wildlife don’t mix

An analysis of the 2011 policy found that banning disposable plastic water bottles at the Grand Canyon could eliminate up to 20 percent of the park’s overall waste stream. The analysis also found that banning disposable plastic water bottles would reduce the risk of birds, rodents and larger mammals ingesting plastic. The animals are attracted to plastic bottles thinking there is food or water inside. They chew the plastic and swallow small pieces of it. The plastic can become lodged in their throats and they can either choke on it or the plastic can accumulate and create blockages in their digestive tracks. In other words, disposable plastic water bottles are detrimental to wildlife at national parks.

The overturn of the 2011 policy represents the Trump administration’s desire to put industry above the environment. Deputy Interior Secretary David Bernhardt was confirmed in June. He spent eight years as an attorney at Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, a Denver law firm. Nestle is one of the law firm’s clients. As DeRusha Florez said, “This is an example of the industry working behind the scenes to protect its profits.”

“Our National Parks have and should continue serving as an example of how to treat our natural environment,” said Sierra Club’s public lands policy director Athan Manuel in a statement.

“This action is in clear contradiction to this agency’s mission of protecting the planet.”

Indeed overturning the policy shows that the Trump administration does not care about the environment or sound environmental policy.


Image credit: M. Appelman, courtesy Flickr

Gina-Marie Cheeseman
Gina-Marie Cheesemanhttp://www.justmeans.com/users/gina-marie-cheeseman
Gina-Marie Cheeseman, freelance writer/journalist/copyeditor about.me/gmcheeseman Twitter: @gmcheeseman

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