Don't Trash Big Bend...RECYCLEOver 500,000 visitors come to Big Bend National Park every year. Between visitors and park staff we end up with nearly 450 tons of garbage annually. All of this ends up in the park landfill. This is not the legacy anyone intends to leave behind. 
NPS / C. Hoyt Leave excess packaging behind!When preparing for your trip, choose gear and food with the least amount of packaging or get rid of excess packaging before you leave home. Do your best to avoid buying single use products. Not only does it reduce waste when you are here, but saves you packing space! Use Refillables!Bring as many reusable items as possible, such as refillable water bottles, travel mugs, utensils, food containers, cooking gas canisters, and reusable bags. Use refillable propane cylinders for camp stoves and lanterns. Bonus: Refillables not only reduce waste, but save you (and us) money. Dispose of trash and recycling properly.Be sure to put true garbage in the garbage can and recyclable items in the recycling containers. At visitor centers, campgrounds, and most stores, you can find bins to recycle aluminum, number 1 & 2 plastics, and glass. Disposing of waste properly and recycling helps keep Big Bend beautiful, protects wildlife, and saves money! Each year, Big Bend National Park recycles over 90,000 pounds of glass, paper products, metal, and plastic products. You can find recycling containers at every visitor center and at Cottonwood, Rio Grande Village, and Chisos Basin campgrounds. Recycle all you can at Big Bend, then take with you anything you can recycle at home. Help us preserve the beauty of Big Bend for future generations. Recycle! 
Big Bend's LandfillYes, Big Bend National Park has its own landfill inside the park. It is filling up, and recycling helps us to use it as efficiently as possible. Visit our landfill page for more information. 
Recycling Fast FactsHow much water do we save by recycling one ton of paper? How much petroleum do you save by recycling plastic bottles? Visit the recycling fast facts page to find the answers. Play your Part as a Big Bend National Park Visitor Video Player is loading. TranscriptBig Bend National Park is filled with beautiful landscapes, Diverse life and rich features that have been around for millennia. And with your help, for many more. As a visitor, be aware of the park rules and regulations throughout your visit. Time seems to slow down here.You should too. For the safety of wildlife, yourself and others, the speed limit is 45 miles per hour. ATV and drone use is strictly prohibited anywhere in the park. Bicycles are welcome on all roads, paved and unpaved, but are not permitted on any trails. Pets are welcome anywhere that cars can go and must be attended at all times.For the safety of your pet, park wildlife and visitors, pets are never permitted on the trails. Everything within Big Bend National Park is protected. Discharging firearms, hunting, disturbing, or destroying wildlife is prohibited. The park's ecosystem is delicate and all flora and fauna are protected by law. Do not bring in any outside plants or remove existing plants from within the park. Archaeological and natural features are also protected. This includes rocks and fossils. As a good steward, please don't move, disturb or collect. This includes not building rock cairns or the carving or graffiti of rocks or plants. Due to its remote nature, Big Bend is one of only two national parks with an active landfill on site, which means any trash you leave permanently stays in the park. So be sustainability minded and please pack out what you pack in.</b> Bring reusable water containers and utilize the recycling collection bins. Please be aware of responsible food storage in wildlife prone areas. By visiting a national park, you have the opportunity to play your part in stewarding our precious resources for generations to come. Want to help support your favorite national park even more? Join the Big Bend Conservancy, the philanthropic partner of Big Bend National Park. Their mission is to preserve, enrich and conserve the unique resources and natural beauty of the park for generations to come. Thank you for joining us in caring for this beautiful paradise.When we work together, it's always a beautiful day at Big Bend National Park.
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Big Bend is filled with amazing landscapes, diverse life, and rich features that have been around for millennia...and with YOUR help, for many more. Learn how to play your part in protecting this special place. |
Last updated: February 23, 2024