119-S-1926 Investigative Journalist Impact Analysis

Summary

What the bill does and why it matters

- Proposal: Requires NPS to establish a program to reduce disposable plastics and, where practicable, eliminate sales of bottled water and other single‑use plastic items, with biennial evaluations and park‑wide consistency, including concession contracts. [1]Congress.gov — Text - S.1926 (119th Congress): Reducing Waste in National Parks…

- Context: DOI’s 2022 order to phase out single‑use plastics on public lands by 2032 was rescinded in May 2025, shifting plastic policy back to agency or legislative action; S.1926 would set a statutory framework specific to national parks. [5]U.S. Department of the Interior — SO 3430 – Rescission of SO 3407 (Department‑w…

- Headline impacts: Parks that built refill networks and standardized waste practices have removed millions of pounds of landfill waste; at Grand Canyon, disposable plastic bottles comprise about a fifth of the waste stream, underscoring the potential for reductions. [3]NPCA (Press Release) — Don’t Feed the Landfills Initiative Eliminates 22 Millio…[4]National Park Service — Grand Canyon: Go Green and Refill Your Water Bottles (b…

Economic Effects

Direct and indirect cost/benefit channels for parks, concessioners, and visitors

• Capital and O&M: Typical bottle‑filling stations range roughly $900–$3,700 per unit (equipment only), with retrofit options on the low end; parks still bear installation, plumbing/electrical, filtration, and periodic testing costs. [6]Web search · turn 6 #6[7]Home Depot — Filtered EZH2O Bottle Filling Station with ADA fountain (price ref…[8]Elkay — Elkay ezH2O Bottle Filling Station (example unit; price)[9]Web search · turn 6 #2
• Waste‑handling savings: NPS/NPCA’s “Don’t Feed the Landfills” pilots (Denali, Grand Teton, Yosemite) halved landfill waste and, system‑wide since 2015, helped keep ~22 million pounds out of parks—implying avoided hauling and litter‑abatement costs when paired with refill stations and standardized sorting. [3]NPCA (Press Release) — Don’t Feed the Landfills Initiative Eliminates 22 Millio…
• Concessioner revenue mix: Case data show mixed impacts—Zion’s concessioner reported a ~$25,000 loss early after eliminating plastic water sales, while Hawaiʻi Volcanoes’ cooperating association projected ~$80,000 annual revenue from reusable bottle sales. Results depend on pricing, stock, and refill availability. [10]National Parks Traveler — Grand Canyon, Zion, Hawai‘i Volcanoes case details on…
• Market substitution risks: If bottled water is unavailable and refill access is inconvenient, sales can shift to sugary drinks—raising health concerns and not reducing packaging. A peer‑reviewed campus study (UVM) documented increased sugary‑drink shipments and total bottles after a water‑sales ban. [11]American Journal of Public Health (NIH/PMC) — The Unintended Consequences of Re…
• Recycling baselines: PET bottle recycling rates remain limited nationally (≈29% in 2022; ~33% in 2023), so source reduction at high‑visitation sites likely yields larger net waste cuts than relying on downstream recycling alone. [12]Recycling Today — U.S. plastics recovery dips in 2022 (PET ~29%)[13]Packaging World / NAPCOR data — U.S. PET bottle recycling rate reaches multi‑de…
• Measurement caveat: “Bottles saved” counters on popular refill stations can be imprecise, so verified waste metrics (weighed collections, procurement data) should be used for program evaluation. [14]Wired — Those ‘Bottles Saved’ Counters Are Often Inaccurate

Social Effects

Visitor experience, health/safety, equity, and operations

• Hydration and heat risk: Heat‑related illness is a recurring hazard in major parks; Grand Canyon EMS recorded 480+ heat‑related cases (2004–2009), with dehydration common. Eliminating bottled water sales without abundant refill access and clear wayfinding can elevate risk. [15]Wilderness & Environmental Medicine (NIH/PMC) — Exertional Heat‑Related Illness…
• Agency safety rationale: When NPS rescinded its 2011 “bottle ban” policy in 2017, it cited hydration concerns and visitor choice—context for S.1926’s requirement to weigh safety during implementation. [16]National Park Service — NPS ends effort to eliminate sale of disposable water b…
• Water reliability constraints: Parks dependent on fragile systems (e.g., Grand Canyon pipeline outages) periodically impose conservation measures; contingency plans (portable tanks, canned/aluminum water, or temporary exceptions) are essential to avoid illness or risky use of untreated surface water. [17]Associated Press — Grand Canyon imposes water conservation measures amid supply…
• Access and clarity: Some parks already operate without selling plastic water (e.g., Zion) and post detailed refill locations, suggesting feasibility where infrastructure is dense and signage consistent. [18]National Park Service — Zion NP: Goods & Services (no plastic water sold; refil…
• Backcountry disease risk: Untreated surface waters carry pathogens (e.g., Giardia); education and backup potable options are necessary to prevent visitors from resorting to unsafe sources if they misjudge refill availability. [19]Web search · turn 18 #6

Environmental Effects

Waste, pollution, and ecosystem indicators

• Plastic waste loads: Parks and partners have documented large landfill and litter reductions via refill stations and standardized diversion; system‑wide efforts have diverted ~22 million pounds since 2015. [3]NPCA (Press Release) — Don’t Feed the Landfills Initiative Eliminates 22 Millio…
• Park‑level signal: Grand Canyon estimates disposable plastic bottles comprise ~20% of its waste stream, so water‑refill systems target a high‑yield fraction. [4]National Park Service — Grand Canyon: Go Green and Refill Your Water Bottles (b…
• Microplastics deposition: >1,000 metric tons of microplastic particles fall annually on western U.S. protected lands (Science, 2020), indicating reductions in local single‑use plastic leakage align with broader contamination concerns. [20]Utah State University (Science study) — >1,000 tons of microplastics deposited…
• EPS foam and foodware: Expanded polystyrene is brittle, not readily recyclable, and prone to fragmentation; states have restricted it in food service due to litter and pollution impacts—supporting S.1926’s inclusion of EPS in its definitions. [21]Washington State Department of Ecology — Expanded Polystyrene Ban – rationale a…[22]New York State Department of Environmental Conservation — EPS foam contributes…
• Relative footprints: Life‑cycle analyses (e.g., Barcelona case) find bottled water’s ecosystem/resource impacts orders of magnitude higher than tap, reinforcing the environmental rationale for refill‑first systems (context differs from U.S. parks but directionally informative). [23]Web search · turn 12 #5
• Marine‑debris pathway: DOI and NOAA identify plastic bottles/caps as common marine debris items harming wildlife; reducing single‑use in coastal parks may limit downstream loading. [24]U.S. Department of the Interior — Marine Debris (plastic bottles/caps among com…

Temporal Analysis

Short‑term vs. long‑term outcomes

• 0–2 years (startup): Capital outlays for refill stations, wayfinding, digital maps, contract updates with concessioners/cooperating associations, and public‑health testing; risk of short‑term visitor confusion and substitution to sugary beverages if rollout precedes infrastructure. [8]Elkay — Elkay ezH2O Bottle Filling Station (example unit; price)[25]Elkay — Elkay ezH2O Retrofit Kit (price reference)[11]American Journal of Public Health (NIH/PMC) — The Unintended Consequences of Re…
• 2–5 years (stabilization): Waste‑hauling and litter‑abatement savings begin to offset capital; data systems mature (weighed waste, procurement), enabling biennial evaluations required by S.1926. [1]Congress.gov — Text - S.1926 (119th Congress): Reducing Waste in National Parks…[3]NPCA (Press Release) — Don’t Feed the Landfills Initiative Eliminates 22 Millio…
• 5+ years (durability): Embedded refill culture, standardized contracts, and continuous education lock in lower plastic footprints; environmental gains scale with tourism growth and complement broader plastic‑reduction policies after the 2025 rescission of DOI’s department‑wide phase‑out. [5]U.S. Department of the Interior — SO 3430 – Rescission of SO 3407 (Department‑w…

Unintended Consequences

Documented or plausible risks and how to mitigate them

• Outage contingencies: Hot‑weather supply interruptions (e.g., Grand Canyon pipeline events) can force temporary reliance on single‑use water; the program should pre‑authorize emergency exceptions and stock safe alternatives to prevent dehydration. [17]Associated Press — Grand Canyon imposes water conservation measures amid supply…
• Metrics integrity: Relying on on‑device “bottles saved” tickers risks over‑ or under‑counting; use weighed waste, procurement, and concessioner sales data for biennial evaluations. [14]Wired — Those ‘Bottles Saved’ Counters Are Often Inaccurate
• Green‑marketing pitfalls: “Compostable/biodegradable” plastic claims often mislead if industrial composting is unavailable; FTC Green Guides and EPA guidance warrant cautious procurement language to avoid merely swapping one problematic plastic for another. [26]Web search · turn 15 #0[27]Web search · turn 15 #1
• Revenue disruption: Early concessioner revenue dips (e.g., Zion) are possible; transition plans (reusable bottles at varied price points, visible refills, and aluminum water) can mitigate. [10]National Parks Traveler — Grand Canyon, Zion, Hawai‘i Volcanoes case details on…

Assessment

Analytical stance (not advocacy)

Overall: Neutral, contingent on design. Environmental benefits are well‑supported when dense refill infrastructure, education, and contingency supplies are in place; economic effects appear manageable to favorable over time given waste‑handling savings, but can be negative for concessioners without careful product‑mix planning; social outcomes depend on reliable water access to avoid heat/dehydration risks and sugary‑drink substitution. [3]NPCA (Press Release) — Don’t Feed the Landfills Initiative Eliminates 22 Millio…[4]National Park Service — Grand Canyon: Go Green and Refill Your Water Bottles (b…[11]American Journal of Public Health (NIH/PMC) — The Unintended Consequences of Re…[15]Wilderness & Environmental Medicine (NIH/PMC) — Exertional Heat‑Related Illness…

Sourcing (selected)

Key primary sources for text, actions, and empirical effects

• Bill text and actions: Congress.gov entries for S.1926; Senate Energy & Natural Resources Subcommittee hearing notice (Dec 9, 2025). [1]Congress.gov — Text - S.1926 (119th Congress): Reducing Waste in National Parks…[2]Congress.gov — S.1926 - Bill overview and actions[28]U.S. Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee — National Parks Subcommittee…
• Policy backdrop: DOI Secretarial Order 3430 rescinding SO 3407 (single‑use plastics phase‑out). [5]U.S. Department of the Interior — SO 3430 – Rescission of SO 3407 (Department‑w…
• NPS implementation/safety context: 2017 NPS rescission of “bottle ban.” [16]National Park Service — NPS ends effort to eliminate sale of disposable water b…
• Park waste baselines and reductions: NPCA/Subaru initiative; Grand Canyon bottle share. [3]NPCA (Press Release) — Don’t Feed the Landfills Initiative Eliminates 22 Millio…[4]National Park Service — Grand Canyon: Go Green and Refill Your Water Bottles (b…
• Health risk evidence: Heat‑related illness at Grand Canyon; Grand Canyon water‑outage advisories. [15]Wilderness & Environmental Medicine (NIH/PMC) — Exertional Heat‑Related Illness…[17]Associated Press — Grand Canyon imposes water conservation measures amid supply…
• Recycling context: PET bottle recycling rates (EPA historical; NAPCOR 2023). [29]Web search · turn 4 #2[13]Packaging World / NAPCOR data — U.S. PET bottle recycling rate reaches multi‑de…
• Substitution risk: UVM American Journal of Public Health study on bottled‑water bans. [11]American Journal of Public Health (NIH/PMC) — The Unintended Consequences of Re…
• Microplastics deposition in parks: USU/Science study. [20]Utah State University (Science study) — >1,000 tons of microplastics deposited…
• EPS rationale: WA Ecology and NY DEC descriptions of EPS problems. [21]Washington State Department of Ecology — Expanded Polystyrene Ban – rationale a…[22]New York State Department of Environmental Conservation — EPS foam contributes…
• Cost references and measurement caution: Elkay equipment pricing; Wired on counter accuracy. [8]Elkay — Elkay ezH2O Bottle Filling Station (example unit; price)[7]Home Depot — Filtered EZH2O Bottle Filling Station with ADA fountain (price ref…[14]Wired — Those ‘Bottles Saved’ Counters Are Often Inaccurate

Key Metrics

Program‑relevant figures to track

Sources: NPCA program reports; Grand Canyon NPS; USU/Science; NAPCOR/Packaging World; Elkay/retail listings; NPS news release (2017). [3]NPCA (Press Release) — Don’t Feed the Landfills Initiative Eliminates 22 Millio…[4]National Park Service — Grand Canyon: Go Green and Refill Your Water Bottles (b…[20]Utah State University (Science study) — >1,000 tons of microplastics deposited…[13]Packaging World / NAPCOR data — U.S. PET bottle recycling rate reaches multi‑de…[7]Home Depot — Filtered EZH2O Bottle Filling Station with ADA fountain (price ref…[16]National Park Service — NPS ends effort to eliminate sale of disposable water b…