Solid Waste Managment & Recycling
at Yellowstone National Park
- Diverted 73% of our waste from disposal in landfill by composting, reuse, and recycling programs.
- Sorts refuse for processing at the West Yellowstone Compost Facility, where all park waste is processed into a marketable soil amendment. Approximately 2.2 million pounds of our waste was turned into compost.
- Manages a comprehensive recycling program for all operations. In 2009, we recycled or reused over 1.8 million pounds of waste.
- Recycles all used automotive batteries, tires, Freon, antifreeze and paint solvents in vehicle and building maintenance operations.
- Recycles all electronic waste; 2009 amount was 13,651 pounds. In 2008, we also instituted a consumer-electronics recycling program for employees.
- Burns used engine oil for heat in the transportation center.
- Reuses cardboard boxes and packing materials for mail orders and deliveries whenever possible.
- Reuses old laundry bins for transporting recycling materials at locations.
- Recycles batteries and print cartridges from office operations
- Provides bulk dispensers in all fast-food operations instead of (or in addition to) individually packaged condiments
- Reuses worn terry cloth as cleaning towels and creates laundry bags from worn aprons and shower curtains.
- Utilizes bulk soap dispensers in public restrooms and showers in hotels and camp services.
- Installed recycling receptacles in guest rooms and in guest areas to encourage recycling.
- Retired the dry cleaning machine in the Gardiner Laundry, which eliminated the use of Perchloroethylene in the Park. The dry cleaning machine was even recycled for scrap metal.
- Recycles all fluorescent bulbs from our operations.
- Assisted with the funding and development of an award-winning propane-canister recycling trailer that converts canisters into scrap metal. In Yellowstone, more than 15,000 canisters were processed (and diverted from the landfill) in 2009.
- Recovers buttons and zippers from uniforms.
- Reuses guest information materials at campgrounds.
- Recycles all packaging and materials from mattress orders on almost 1,000 items annually.
- Recycles all manure from stable operations and provides to local agricultural businesses.
- Recycles approximately 10,000 gallons of cooking oil and grease annually.
- Donated 17,920 pounds of linens to local non-profits for reuse and 97,500 pounds of worn mattresses and box springs to a business that refurbishes them for low-income housing in 2009.
- Donates unclaimed lost and found items to charity.
- In 2009, 50% of construction waste was diverted, including over 15,000 pounds of carpet.
- Bought new recycling receptacles in 2009 for all employee dorms in the park to increase recycling program participation.
- Began recycling pillows and CD/DVDs in 2009.
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