Subaru of America and the National Parks Conservation Association have made significant progress in reducing waste through the Don't Feed the Landfills Initiative. In collaboration with the National Park Service and the National Park Foundation, the initiative has eliminated 22 million pounds of waste from national parks since 2015. By implementing recycling, composting, and educational programs, the program has helped decrease landfill waste and encouraged visitors to adopt sustainable practices. The initiative, which began at Denali, Grand Teton, and Yosemite National Parks, has demonstrated effective waste reduction strategies, leading other parks like Big Bend and Zion to adopt similar approaches. Subaru has also provided grant funding for improvements such as bear-proof containers and water-filling stations, further supporting sustainability efforts.
This partnership has significantly impacted national parks and surrounding communities by reducing waste and improving environmental stewardship. The initiative’s success has provided a scalable model for waste reduction, helping parks manage over 80 million pounds of waste annually. By focusing on sustainable packaging, visitor education, and improved recycling infrastructure, the project has doubled the amount of single-use plastics diverted from landfills at the pilot parks. These efforts contribute to a healthier environment by reducing pollution, lowering operational costs, and ensuring that national parks remain clean and sustainable for future generations.
