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MoreQuiet 25h · day 7

Yellowstone removes record 20,100 pieces of trash from geysers and hot springs

Park geology staff collected 280 hats, retainers, coins and other debris from hydrothermal areas, with high winds and visitor carelessness blamed.

newest coverage 1d agosummary written 1d ago7 pieces MastodonNewswires

What to know

  • Yellowstone's geology team removed a record 20,100 pieces of trash from hydrothermal areas as of early September 2026, including 280 hats, coins in multiple currencies, and unusual items like retainers and children's toys.
  • High winds and visitor carelessness are the primary culprits; park staff urge visitors to 'stash their trash' and stop treating hot springs as wishing wells.
  • Foreign material damages geothermal features by clogging vents, altering water runoff, and harming microbial communities; Morning Glory Pool's color change in the 1900s offers a cautionary historical example.
  • With 4.5 million annual visitors to the 2.2-million-acre park, managing trash in remote hydrothermal areas remains an ongoing challenge despite staff recovery efforts.
most voices

The trash situation is amusing and notable for the oddity of items recovered.

  • “It is clear that a lot of people touring Yellowstone forget to hold onto their hats - amongst other things”

    allochthonous · Mastodon ↗

“And contrary (apparently) to popular belief, hot springs are not wishing wells.”

Margery Price, Physical science technician, Yellowstone Geology Program · NY Post ↗ · Sep 18

Margery Price Physical science technician, Yellowstone Geology ProgramYellowstone National Park Geology Team Park management

Yellowstone removes record 20,100 pieces of trash from geysers and hot springs
Guardian US

How it unfolded 3 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesposts

Peak 3 pieces in two hours at Sep 22, 2 PM; 7 pieces over 8 days (4 articles · 3 posts) Sep 16, 12 PM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Sep 16, 2 PM — quietSep 16, 4 PM — quietSep 16, 6 PM — quietSep 16, 8 PM — quietSep 16, 10 PM — quietSep 17, 12 AM — quietSep 17, 2 AM — quietSep 17, 4 AM — quietSep 17, 6 AM — quietSep 17, 8 AM — quietSep 17, 10 AM — quietSep 17, 12 PM — quietSep 17, 2 PM — quietSep 17, 4 PM — quietSep 17, 6 PM — quietSep 17, 8 PM — quietSep 17, 10 PM — quietSep 18, 12 AM — quietSep 18, 2 AM — quietSep 18, 4 AM — quietSep 18, 6 AM — quietSep 18, 8 AM — quietSep 18, 10 AM — quietSep 18, 12 PM — quietSep 18, 2 PM — quietSep 18, 4 PM — quietSep 18, 6 PM — quietSep 18, 8 PM — quietSep 18, 10 PM — quietSep 19, 12 AM — quietSep 19, 2 AM — quietSep 19, 4 AM — quietSep 19, 6 AM — quietSep 19, 8 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Sep 19, 10 AM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Sep 19, 12 PM — quietSep 19, 2 PM — quietSep 19, 4 PM — quietSep 19, 6 PM — quietSep 19, 8 PM — quietSep 19, 10 PM — quietSep 20, 12 AM — quietSep 20, 2 AM — quietSep 20, 4 AM — quietSep 20, 6 AM — quietSep 20, 8 AM — quietSep 20, 10 AM — quietSep 20, 12 PM — quietSep 20, 2 PM — quietSep 20, 4 PM — quietSep 20, 6 PM — quietSep 20, 8 PM — quietSep 20, 10 PM — quietSep 21, 12 AM — quietSep 21, 2 AM — quietSep 21, 4 AM — quietSep 21, 6 AM — quietSep 21, 8 AM — quietSep 21, 10 AM — quietSep 21, 12 PM — quietSep 21, 2 PM — quietSep 21, 4 PM — quietSep 21, 6 PM — quietSep 21, 8 PM — quietSep 21, 10 PM — quietSep 22, 12 AM — quietSep 22, 2 AM — quietSep 22, 4 AM — quietSep 22, 6 AM — quietSep 22, 8 AM — quietSep 22, 10 AM — quietSep 22, 12 PM — quietSep 22, 2 PM — 3 pieces · 3 articles — Newswires 3Sep 22, 4 PM — quietSep 22, 6 PM — quietSep 22, 8 PM — quietSep 22, 10 PM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Yesterday, 12 AM — quietYesterday, 2 AM — quietYesterday, 4 AM — quietYesterday, 6 AM — quietYesterday, 8 AM — quietYesterday, 10 AM — quietYesterday, 12 PM — quietYesterday, 2 PM — quietYesterday, 4 PM — quietYesterday, 6 PM — quietYesterday, 8 PM — quietYesterday, 10 PM — quiet ◂ 1 earlier23
Sep 17Sep 18Sep 19Sep 20Sep 21Sep 22now · 12:58 AM ET
  1. 3

    Guardian reports on park's damage concerns and cleanup response

    Coverage emphasized that foreign material can damage or permanently alter hydrothermal features through clogging, blocking runoff, or chemical pollution. The park cited Morning Glory Pool's 20th-century color change from visitor trash as a cautionary example, and noted staff will wash and donate recovered hats at season's end.

    “No matter the type of debris, it needs to be removed. Foreign material of any kind can damage or permanently alter a hydrothermal feature, whether from clogging its water supply, blocking or diverting its runoff channel, or polluting it with chemicals and sediment.”
    — Margery Price
    • ai6yr@m.ai6yr.org

      Apparently hot springs eat hats The Guardian: Hats, pencils and baby pacifiers: Yellowstone staffers retrieve record amount of trash from hot springs https://www. theguardian.com/us-news/2026/s ep/22/yellowstone-trash-record # trash # geysers # hotsprings # yellowstone

      ai6yr@m.ai6yr.orgMastodon1d agoview on Mastodon ↗
  2. 2 days quiet
  3. 2

    NY Post highlights wind as major factor in trash accumulation

    Park official Margery Price explained that high winds make the problem worse, with unexpected gusts easily blowing away tissues, maps, food wrappers, sunglasses and heavier items like hats. She also noted visitors inappropriately treat hot springs as wishing wells.

    “The issue is made worse by the park's high winds: unexpected gusts easily blow away tissues, maps, food wrappers, and even heavier items like sunglasses and hats.”
    — Margery Price
    • allochthonous@scicomm.xyz

      lt is clear that a lot of people touring Yellowstone forget to hold onto their hats - amongst other things: "As of early September 2026, Yellowstone's Geology team has removed more than 20,100 pieces of trash, 5,600 rocks and sticks, and over 280 hats from hydrothermal areas around the park--a record-setting year so far!" https://www…

      allochthonous@scicomm.xyzMastodon4d agoview on Mastodon ↗
  4. 2 days quiet
  5. 1

    UPI reports unusual items found among Yellowstone trash

    Coverage expanded on the record find, noting specific curiosities including a FIFA 2026 Men's World Cup hat, a Roblox bucket hat, and a two-inch copy of 'The Vampire Diaries,' as well as kids' toys and personal care items.

    • verdantsquare@mastodon.world

      Look: Record-setting Yellowstone trash includes 280 hats, 6 retainers https://www. upi.com/Odd_News/2026/09/16/Ye llowstone-National-Park-trash/8331789577237/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon

      verdantsquare@mastodon.worldMastodon7d agoview on Mastodon ↗
  6. background

    Yellowstone reports record trash haul from hydrothermal areas — As of early September, Yellowstone's geology team had removed more than 20,100 pieces of trash, 5,600 rocks and sticks, and 280 hats from hydrothermal areas. The haul includes unusual items: five AirPods, six Invisalign retainers, 15 fake fingernails, three golf tees, eight mini race cars, and $18 in coins from multiple countries.

Also covered reported alongside — the timeline has no entry for these yet

  1. 2 outlets Hats, pencils and baby pacifiers: Yellowstone staffers retrieve record amount of trash from hot springs

    first by Guardian Environment, 1d ago · also Guardian

and 1 smaller piece

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