Hats, pencils and baby pacifiers: Yellowstone staffers retrieve record amount of trash from hot springs

The park is the most highly visited and strong winds make trash problem worse, with gusts blowing away items Hold on to your hats – Yellowstone national park staffers have removed a record-setting 20,100 pieces of trash from hydrothermal areas around the geyser-filled park so far this year The most commonly found items include 280 hats, 54 camera lens caps, 47 hair ties, 42 pencils, 36 pairs of sunglasses, 20 hotel key cards and 17 baby pacifiers. Continue reading...

Cecilia Nowell · Tue, Sep 22, 2026, 1:46 PM
US news | The Guardian

Hats, pencils and baby pacifiers: Yellowstone staffers retrieve record amount of trash from hot springs

The park is the most highly visited and strong winds make trash problem worse, with gusts blowing away items

Hold on to your hats – Yellowstone national park staffers have removed a record-setting 20,100 pieces of trash from hydrothermal areas around the geyser-filled park so far this year

The most commonly found items include 280 hats, 54 camera lens caps, 47 hair ties, 42 pencils, 36 pairs of sunglasses, 20 hotel key cards and 17 baby pacifiers.

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