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Maryland Parks Offer Environmentally- Friendly Trash Bags to Visitors
ANNAPOLIS — In a continuing effort to create a more sustainable future for all Marylanders, the Maryland Park Service now offers environmentally-friendly trash-free bags in all state parks for visitors use. Composed of bio-plastics which are derived from renewable plants such as corn or tapioca, these bags will decompose in 6 to 10 months -- a much greener alternative to the standard, oil-based plastic bags previously used.“Like all Maryland agencies and facilities, Maryland State Parks are taking action to reduce their impact on our environment and save tax-payers money,” said Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley. “When park visitors use these bags to remove trash from the parks, they are helping to ensure cleaner, healthier public lands for future generations.”
Maryland State Parks remain trash-free, meaning that any materials brought into the park by visitors must also leave with them. As a courtesy, the Maryland Park Service provides bags for visitors to easily store their trash until they reach a recycling or trash receptacle outside of the park. The move to biodegradable bags is made possible with support from the Maryland Environmental Service.
For more information, visit http://www.dnr.maryland.gov/outdooradventures/lnt.html.
July 25, 2008 Contact: Olivia Campbell
410-260-8016 office I 410-507-7525 cell
ocampbell@dnr.state.md.usMaryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 449,000 acres of public lands and 17,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland's forests, fisheries and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic and cultural resources attract 12 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland's effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state's number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.dnr.maryland.gov