Reduce, reuse, recycle!
Recycling bins were delivered to all 56 Tennessee State Parks this month, according to a news release from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.
Over 400 BearSaver recycling receptacles – heavy-duty, pest proof and ADA-compliant bins – are available at all Tennessee State Parks for visitor use.
The bins are comprised of three adjoined weatherproof, rustproof containers which accept aluminum, plastic and trash.
Bins that accept paper and glass are also available for visitors at all parks.
“By encouraging recycling within our parks, we are meeting the needs of our visitors and upholding our responsibility to protect Tennessee’s public lands and natural resources,” Brock Hill, deputy commissioner with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) said. “We want Tennessee State Parks to be a leader in waste reduction and overall sustainability.”
The new exterior bins are part of a broader initiative within Tennessee State Parks known as the ‘Go Green With Us’ program, which promotes the integration of sustainable practices into park management and operations.
“Our goal for these improvements is to not only divert waste from landfills, but to also increase awareness of the importance of recycling to state park visitors,” Larry Christley with TDEC’s Division of Solid Waste Management said. TDEC's Division of Solid Waste Management provided funding for the bins.
The new exterior bins are part of a broader initiative within Tennessee State Parks known as the ‘Go Green With Us’ program, which promotes the integration of sustainable practices into park management and operations.
“We are looking to create a recycling program with a uniform appearance at all Tennessee State Parks to better inform visitors of their options for waste disposal,” Kelsey Davis with TDEC’s Office of Policy and Sustainable Practices said. “We hope this will encourage more visitors to recycle while at a park and elsewhere.”
Parks will soon feature new interior recycling bins as well as special event recycling stations at select parks.