As of early October, a team at Yellowstone National Park has gathered more than 23,000 pieces of trash, alongside an interesting mix of items including foreign coins, golf tees, and even an inhaler, from geysers, hot springs, and surrounding paths.
The Yellowstone Geology Program collected a significant amount of trash this year, which includes approximately 10,700 rocks and sticks, over 360 hats, and various other items like camera lens caps, hair ties, and pacifiers, as reported by National Geographic.
Some peculiar items discovered in the cleanup included five AirPods, a few Delta flight pins, and a lone Uno card. There were also dental retainers and rubber ducks.
This year has marked a significant achievement in the ongoing effort to collect refuse in the park, overseen by the geology team.
The team follows safe navigation practices for hydrothermal sites, according to the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory.
In 2025, the park attracted more than 4.7 million visitors, based on figures from the National Park Service.
With so many people visiting, trash can accumulate quickly, particularly in busy areas like Old Faithful and the Midway Geyser Basin.
Some items, like food wrappers and man-made maps, might have been dropped inadvertently, perhaps carried away by the park’s strong winds.
“We think that most of that is accidental,” remarked Margery Price, a physical science technician in the geology program, during her conversation with National Geographic.
Any foreign material poses a risk to hydrothermal features, as it can clog water supply or pollute the water, according to the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory. Even natural items like rocks and sticks can lead to blockages.
Trash can also alter the chemistry of the springs. Chemicals from microplastics can contaminate the water, impacting the unique microbes that provide color to pools.
For instance, Morning Glory Pool, named for the flower, changed its hue in the 20th century as a result of trash and various objects being discarded by visitors.
Since the 1950s, park staff even referred to the pool as the “garbage can,” according to the observatory.
Debris thrown into the pool reduced the water temperature, which allowed orange and yellow bacteria to flourish, thus changing the pool’s typically clear blue shade.
In an attempt to restore the blue color, rangers partially drained Morning Glory in the 1970s to remove debris.
Unfortunately, the pool’s original color never made a complete comeback.
Officials from Yellowstone National Park were contacted for additional comments.
