Reducing Waste in National Parks Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 3604
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Public Lands and Natural Resources
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-05-23: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-20T08:08:26Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Reducing Waste in National Parks Act aims to reduce the use of disposable plastic products, such as single-use bottles and bags, within units of the National Park System (NPS). It establishes a structured program to minimize waste and promote sustainable practices in national parks, while balancing operational, economic, and safety factors.
Key Provisions
- Program Establishment: Within 180 days of enactment, the Director of the National Park Service (NPS) must create a program to reduce disposable plastic products across the NPS. Regional directors will implement it for parks in their regions, focusing on elimination where feasible.
- Elimination of Sales and Distribution:
- Bans the sale of water in disposable plastic bottles and other disposables (e.g., plastic bags, food ware, and polystyrene items) to the greatest extent possible.
- Requires consideration of factors like costs, waste reduction benefits, infrastructure for water refill stations, contracts with park vendors (concessioners), public health, visitor safety (e.g., risks of dehydration or unsafe water sources), and input from stakeholders.
- Parks that already do not sell bottled water can maintain this policy.
- Visitor Education: Regional directors must develop strategies to inform visitors about water availability, the program's reasons, and encourage bringing reusable bottles. This includes online and on-site education, signage for refill stations, and consistency across park operations.
- Implementation Consistency: The program must be applied uniformly within each park unit, including updates to agreements with concessioners (park vendors) and cooperating associations (non-profit groups selling park-related items).
- Biennial Evaluations: Every two years, regional directors must assess the program's effectiveness, covering public response, visitor satisfaction, sales trends, safety incidents (e.g., dehydration or disease from untreated water), and plastic waste collection rates. Reports go to the NPS Director and Secretary of the Interior.
- Definitions:
- Disposable plastic products: Includes single-use plastic bottles for drinks, thin plastic carryout bags, plastic utensils or containers (even those labeled compostable or biodegradable), and foam polystyrene items.
- Program: Refers to the overall recycling and reduction initiative.
- Regional director: The NPS official overseeing a park region, coordinating with the park's superintendent (on-site manager).
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- This bill introduces a nationwide, mandatory framework for reducing plastics in NPS units, building on voluntary efforts in some parks but requiring systematic implementation, evaluations, and stakeholder consultations.
- It expands NPS authority to regulate sales by concessioners through contract updates, without altering broader federal waste laws, but adds specific environmental guidelines for public lands.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The NPS will face implementation costs for refill stations, education, and evaluations, potentially offset by reduced waste management expenses. Regional offices and superintendents gain new responsibilities, with biennial reporting adding administrative workload.
- Citizens (Visitors): Encourages bringing reusable water bottles, improving access to free water but possibly affecting convenience in remote areas. Could enhance environmental awareness and reduce litter, though safety risks (e.g., inadequate hydration) must be monitored.
- International Relations: Minimal direct impact, but aligns U.S. parks with global sustainability efforts, potentially influencing eco-tourism perceptions abroad.
- Overall: Promotes waste reduction in high-traffic natural areas, benefiting ecosystems, but may require funding for infrastructure without specified appropriations.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- National Park Service (NPS): Leads program development and oversight, including directors, regional offices, and superintendents.
- Concessioners and Cooperating Associations: Park vendors and non-profits affected by sales restrictions; must adapt product offerings and may see revenue shifts from disposables to reusables.
- Park Visitors: Directly impacted by changes in product availability and education efforts; must prepare for reduced single-use options.
- Secretary of the Interior: Receives evaluations, influencing broader Department of the Interior policies on public lands.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens NPS regulatory powers over commercial activities in parks under the National Park Service Organic Act (which governs park management), but includes flexibility (e.g., "feasible" eliminations) to avoid contract breaches or undue burdens. No new enforcement penalties are specified, relying on internal compliance.
- Constitutional: No apparent conflicts; respects property interests of concessioners through required consultations and does not infringe on free speech or due process, as changes apply only to federal lands.
- Political: Advances environmental conservation priorities, potentially appealing to sustainability advocates but facing pushback from businesses over economic effects. As an introduced bill (H.R. 3604, 119th Congress), it reflects bipartisan interest in green policies for public spaces, though implementation details could spark debates on federal overreach in park operations.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (46)
Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26], Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3], Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6], Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8], Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2], Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12], Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9], Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1], Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Sherman, Brad [D-CA-32], Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44], Rep. Moskowitz, Jared [D-FL-23], Rep. Pallone, Frank [D-NJ-6], Rep. Jacobs, Sara [D-CA-51], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. McCollum, Betty [D-MN-4], Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8], Rep. Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8], Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20], Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9], Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5], Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2], Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7], Rep. Levin, Mike [D-CA-49], Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8], Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36], Rep. Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10], Rep. McBath, Lucy [D-GA-6], Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4], Rep. DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1], Rep. Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-7], Rep. Bynum, Janelle S. [D-OR-5], Rep. Smith, Adam [D-WA-9], Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1], Rep. LaLota, Nick [R-NY-1], Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-FL-20], Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-18], Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-25], Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19], Rep. Dexter, Maxine [D-OR-3], Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10], Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28], Rep. Thompson, Mike [D-CA-4], Rep. Frankel, Lois [D-FL-22], Rep. Schrier, Kim [D-WA-8]
Recent Actions
- 2025-05-23: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- 2025-05-23: Introduced in House
- 2025-05-23: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Reducing Waste in National Parks Act — issued 2025-05-23 — PDF (6 pages)