Public parks present an opportunity to demonstrate leadership and model Zero Waste initiatives for the public.
From Single-Use to Reuse at the Grand Canyon
Upstream is leading a multi-year, multi-stakeholder project to shift the Grand Canyon National Park’s concessions, both dine-in and to-go, from single-use to reuse — creating the nation’s largest reuse system. Along with successful implementation at the Grand Canyon, the goal is to create a model for open loop reuse for national parks. By October of 2025, Upstream will have completed in-person data collection and stakeholder analysis, conducted two week-long design sprints, and progressed through seven months of implementation planning. During the session, Madhavi Trisha will speak to the project’s unique challenges and successes so far.
From Data to Disruption: How Waste Audits Can Fuel Culture Shift, Movements & Policy Change
This presentation from 5 Gyres examines how branded waste audit data can drive cultural change, build movements, and promote policy advancement. In Austin, early branded waste audits helped spark the formation of a reuse coalition aimed at voluntary action in a state with strong preemption laws. In Los Angeles, findings from a regionwide community-led audit mobilized a coalition to pursue several comprehensive plastics reduction and zero waste ordinances in both the city and county. Nationally, branded waste audits conducted across national parks and federal lands are helping those who steward the parks identify top pollution sources and empowering advocates to lobby for long-term policy solutions. These case studies demonstrate the power of branded waste data to catalyze change across urban environments and protected public spaces.
Battery Park City: Seeking to Serve as a model for Sustainability
Battery Park City is committing to more precisely define, enhance, and measure our sustainability objectives by achieving a TRUE Certification. When rolling out its Zero Waste Initiative, BPCA began by focusing on staff behavioral changes first. Our thinking was that by focusing on the staff’s perception and education on Zero Waste, we could create a solid foundation for the project. By taking incremental steps and publicly engaging staff when introducing changes, we were able to secure support throughout our organization. Some of BPCA’s newer Zero Waste Initiatives included: distributing reusable service ware to all employees, implementing monthly waste audits, creating a seed paper program from outdated Parks Programming calendars, and reaching out to vendors to search for alternative sustainable packing materials.
Speakers:
- Madhavi Trikha, Data Science Specialist, Upstream
- Alison Waliszewski, Director of Regional Policy & Program Development, 5 Gyres
- Ryan Torres (she/her), Vice President of Parks Operations , Battery Park City Authority