“They miss you, and they need to execute their purpose to be fulfilled litter-mitigating receptacles.” -White Sands National Park
New Mexico’s White Sands National Park has taken a creative approach to discourage littering inside it’s 145,762 acres of the Tularosa Basin with a historic retrospective of trash cans and clever bit of anthropomorphization.
Seeing litter on the glistening white sands of the world’s largest gypsum dunefield (275 square miles) can easily detract from experiencing one of the world’s great natural wonders and White Sands simply asks visitors “give nature a break” and make sure all the trash you create in the park either goes home with you or ends up in a trash can.
Remember folks, trash is both unsightly and unhealthy. Leaving rubbish in National Parks can ruin everyone’s experience, including local wildlife:
“Leftover food like orange peels and apple cores can harm wildlife and make them sick. Always place your trash in the provided recycling bins, trash bins, and dumpsters.” –White Sands National Park
When visiting our National Parks please abide by the Leave No Trace principles and leave these sacred places the same way that you found them or better.
White Sands National Park Statement:
The first documented garbage receptacle, or trash can if you will, was first introduced in France in the early 1880s. This wonderful product of human ingenuity has been in White Sands National Park since its establishment as a monument in 1933, and people have been ignoring them ever since.
Whatever you may call it: trash can, waste bin, wastepaper basket, garbage, etc., it’s not very useful if it’s empty. No one likes to feel useless, so please utilize our trash cans for all your waste. They miss you, and they need to execute their purpose to be fulfilled litter-mitigating receptacles.
Remember, every manmade structure in a national park has a specific purpose, whether it be a boardwalk to protect fragile ecosystems, a railing to keep you from falling into a canyon, or a trash can to ensure our parks stay beautiful. Every manmade piece is intentional; we let nature do the rest.
However, even nature needs a break. So, when you visit a national park, pack out what you pack in and leave it better than you found it. Leave no trace.
