Plastic Water Bottles Get the Boot

If you’ve ever had your backcountry buzz killed by stumbling upon a discarded plastic bottle or two, good news is on the way. A recent announcement by National Park Service Intermountain Regional Director John Wessels declared an end to the sale of plastic water bottles in Grand Canyon National Park.

 The move will have immediate and long-lasting consequences including: reducing the park’s solid waste stream (20% of which has been comprised of discarded plastic water bottles); reducing ecologically harmful and unsightly litter from rim-to-river; and setting a “green” example for resource managers and park enthusiasts, both domestically and internationally.

 The good news for thirsty park visitors is that the park’s network of strategically-placed (and free) water filling stations is nearly complete, and the sale of reusable, non-plastic water bottles will continue to grow at the various retail outlets located throughout the park.

So take pride in doing your part by topping off your reusable bottle at a refilling station, and enjoy the cleaner, greener  park that keeps us all filled to the brim with inspiration. Learn more by following this link: http://www.nps.gov/grca/parknews/2012-02-06_water-bottles.htm