Inside the Effort to Keep Our National Parks Clean Beautiful
From Cape Cod to Yellowstone, discover how partnerships, education, and smart design are helping visitors reduce their impact and preserve the country’s most treasured landscapes
In this episode of “Do Beautiful Things,” host Jenny Lawson, President and CEO of Keep America Beautiful, explores how collaborative, innovative approaches are making America’s national parks cleaner and greener for all.
Special guest Ashley McAvoy, Director of Programs and Partnerships at the National Park Foundation, joins Jenny Lawson to discuss the unique challenges of managing waste in parks ranging from Cape Cod to Yellowstone. The conversation highlights new solutions for recycling and waste reduction—and how every visitor can play a part.
A standout moment in the episode features the National Park Foundation-funded project at Colter Bay Campground in Grand Teton National Park. There, Keep America Beautiful partnered with TerraCycle and Grand Teton Lodge Company to introduce a repurposed shipping container as a dedicated recycling hub for hard-to-recycle items like fishing line and snack wrappers. This innovative and flexible infrastructure helps visitors keep the park clean and supports a more circular economy, even in remote areas.
Tune in to discover how education, smart infrastructure, and the actions of everyday people are helping to preserve these breathtaking spaces—and to learn practical ways you can make a difference on your next visit.
Show Links:
- National Parks Foundation: www.nationalparks.org
Show Notes:
- 00:00 “Protecting Parks, Reducing Waste”
- 05:50 “Leading by Example in Sustainability”
- 06:44 Activism: Rent for Earth Living
- 11:07 “Reuse Innovations in National Parks”
- 14:29 Sustainability Program Driven by Data
- 18:46 Reducing Plastic Waste in Parks
- 21:56 “Recycling Challenges in Parks”
- 24:03 “Building Environmental Stewards Everywhere”
- 26:57 “Preserving America’s Beautiful Spaces”
About Keep America Beautiful®:
Keep America Beautiful, the nation’s leading community improvement nonprofit organization, inspires and educates people to take action every day to improve and beautify their community environment. Established in 1953, Keep America Beautiful strives to end littering, improve recycling, and beautify America’s communities. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Donate and take action at kab.org.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
McCall Vrydaghs
Keep America Beautiful®