When we go to our favorite outdoor places, we go to enjoy the natural world around us. But whose job is it to make sure these places stay safe? Well it is all of ours! We all must work together to make sure these areas are clean and safe for generations to come. When you go for a walk around your neighborhood or to your favorite park, have you ever noticed trash in places where it should not be like the ground or the street? How do you think that affects the environment around it?
Not only is litter distracting and unsightly, it can have an impact on the health of the environment. Some trash takes a very long time to decompose, which means it can have long-lasting effects after it has been left on the ground.
Trash and litter are human impacts that can greatly detract from the naturalness of an area. Visitors can find garbage and recycling receptacles at most parking lots in the park. Please note that our trash receptacles are "bear-safe" to prevent raccoons, opossums and other wildlife from getting inside. To unlock and open: slide your fingers into the handle, push the release, and pull up.
Let's work together to protect this special place! Here are some tips to help our staff better manage the waste that comes with millions of visitors each year:
Minimize Waste
Bring reusable items like water bottles, utensils, and bags to reduce single-use waste. It is possible to leave most potential trash at home if you take the time to properly repackage food supplies. Reduce the volume of trash you have to pack out.
Pack Out What You Packed In
Be sure to Leave No Trace and bring back everything that you came with. (Bonus points: pack out MORE trash than you brought!)
Overflowing? Keep On Going!
If a garbage or recycling receptacle is full, please bring your items to one with space. Please do not pile garbage around a full receptacle, as this makes it difficult for our staff to clean it up.
Sort Properly
Dirty diapers and half-eaten hot dogs are not recyclable (go figure)! Please make sure you understand what items can be recycled, and what items are garbage. Please, no food or greasy pizza boxes in recycling receptacles. When a bag of recyclable items is contaminated with these types of items, the entire bag becomes trash.
You might be surprised to learn that these items are not accepted: Plastic Bags, Aerosol Cans, Electronics, Light Bulbs, Batteries, Styrofoam, Solo Cups
Check out what can and cannot be recycled in the park:
Locations:Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, Indiana Dunes National Park, Isle Royale National Park, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
The presence of microplastics in the marine environment poses risks to wildlife and human health. Learn about a recent microplastics study of national park beaches and what it means for the Great Lakes.
