Denali’s Superintendents
Celebrate the Zero-Landfill Initiative
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
More Videos
VIDEO: Denali Zero-Landfill Project: Park Visitors Can Help Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle
- As you explore and enjoy Denali and all of Alaska’s natural landscapes, we encourage you to be good stewards and leave only footprints. By recycling properly and reducing waste, visitors help protect national parks and preserve precious resources. It’s EASY and it’s the right thing to do.
VIDEO: Who We Are is What We Leave Behind: The National Parks Zero-Landfill Initiative
- What better way to celebrate the centennial of the National Parks than by helping them lose 100-million pounds…of visitor-generated garbage? Watch “Who We Are is What We Leave Behind”, a landmark series documenting the Subaru National Parks Zero-Landfill Initiative.
VIDEO: Episode 4: Denali Zero-Landfill Project
- Subaru environmental experts travel to “The Great One,” Denali National Park — the third pilot park in our landmark National Parks Zero-Landfill Initiative — to try and tackle the unique challenges presented by Alaska’s remoteness.
VIDEO: A one-woman recycling revolution in Alaska
- CBS Sunday Morning. October 2016
Rena Nicklie’s tiny village of Cantwell, in the shadow of Alaska’s Denali National Park, is 150 miles from the nearest recycling center. So she started her own.
VIDEO: Alaska Teens Tackle Tourism Trash
- CBS News. October 2016
Students from the community around Denali National Park are forming their own council on recycling.
VIDEO: Roadtrippin’: Denali program aims to reduce waste with help of local youth
- KTUU-TV. May 2017
DENALI, Alaska – When it comes to preserving the environment for generations to come, many groups around the world have begun employing students as their go-to guides. Enter the Denali-based arm of the nationwide movement Zero-Landfill Initiative, which challenges students to solve problems of waste in their communities.
VIDEO: Visiting a National Park? #DontFeedTheLandfills Here’s how.
- Matador Network, September 2016
It’s a simple yet profound concept: Don’t feed the landfills while visiting our national parks. We take for granted that since there are trash cans in the parks, it’s no big deal to fill them up with a bunch of our camping and picnicking rubbish. The problem is that trash has to go somewhere. Inevitably, it ends up in our ever-expanding landfills.
Articles
“Valley Recycling Organizations Win Big at 36th Annual ALPAR Awards,” Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman, May 11, 2019
“Denali National Park Tackles Trash with Zero-Landfill Initiative,” Anchorage Daily News, July 8, 2018
“Pioneering Parks: America’s National Park Service Explores New Ideas for Sustainability and Learning Opportunities,” Alaska Beyond, the in-flight magazine of Alaska Airlines. April 2018
“Denali Teens Look for Solution to Borough Waste Problem,” Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. September 2016
“Denali Park Partners Take Active Role in Zero-Landfill Initiative,” NPS News. December 2017
“Don’t Feed the Landfills,” Conscious Planet Earth. November 2017
Photo Gallery
- Denali Zero-Landfill Youth Ambassadors set-up mobile recycle bins at public outreach events, like Denali’s Summerfest. Photo credit: Melissa Blair
- Recycle bins for aluminum, glass, and plastics #1, #2 and #5 are available at visitor facilities throughout the park. Photo credit: NPS
- Snack wrappers are collected for recycling in partnership with Terracycle. Photo credit: Melissa Blair
- Snack wrappers from boxed lunches served on bus tours are collected for recycling in partnership with Terracycle. Photo credit: Melissa Blair
- Stainless steel cups are great alternatives to disposable plastic cups. Photo credit: Melissa Blair
- It’s easy to reduce plastic water bottle waste by refilling reusable bottles at water fountains. Photo credit: Melissa Blair
- Local students transform cardboard into art at Tri-Valley School.
- Local students transform cardboard into art at Tri-Valley School.
- Signs at cash registers remind customers to choose reusable bags to carry souvenirs and supplies. Photo credit: Melissa Blair
- Signs at cash registers remind customers to choose reusable bags to carry souvenirs and supplies. Photo credit: Melissa Blair
- Reusable bags and water bottles on display at the Alaska Geographic bookstore. Photo credit: Melissa Blair
- Denali Zero-Landfill Youth Ambassadors are honored for their commitment to sustainable solutions at Denali’s Summerfest. Photo credit: Melissa Blair
- Denali Zero-Landfill Youth Ambassadors educate park visitors at Denali’s Summerfest. Photo credit: Melissa Blair
- “Z” for Zero-Landfill!
- Plastic water bottles recycled at the park are transported 200 miles to a recycling center, then 2,000 miles or more to processing facilities outside of Alaska. Please choose reusable water bottles instead!