Walk, bike, and ride
One of the best ways to reduce your impact is to keep your car parked. Mammoth Lakes offers ways to easily to get around our four-square-mile town, from
miles of paved paths and sidewalks to mountain bike or electric bike rentals to
free public transportation, including up to the Lakes Basin. You can even get to Yosemite National Park by purchasing a ticket for the
YARTS bus, which includes your park entrance fee.
Reduce single-use plastics
There’s no need to pay for those pricey single-use plastic water bottles when you can find several free water-refilling stations around town, including inside some local businesses. Invest in a reusable water bottle or wash and reuse a previously purchased drink bottle that can be thrown in your bag while out for the day. You can also refill it before you leave your table at a restaurant if dining out.
Taking food to go? Consider signing up to use Buoy reusable containers. When you're done, just drop them off (unwashed) in one of the designated bins around town.
Pick up after your pet
Be sure to pick up your dog's poo and dispose of it in a trash can. If you forgot your doggy bags, a few bag dispensers can be found around town. Pet waste is not only unpleasant to come across on or near the sidewalk, but it can also contaminate the local water source. Don't leave that bag of waste behind either! You may forget it, or another hungry critter will eat it (yuck).
Familiarize yourself with the
local leash laws and remember that your pup must be restrained at all times when walking around town. Some pets are also welcome on a few town transit routes, but a muzzle is required.
Respect our wildlife
Keep the wildlife wild; keep their paws off of food and trash! Our town trash cans and dumpsters are specifically designed to keep
bears and other animals out, so please make sure the trash can or dumpster door is closed and latched tightly after each use. Make sure all food comes inside with you or goes in the trash -- don't leave food in your car! Hand-feeding or putting food out to attract creatures doesn’t only teach them bad habits by relying on humans for food, it’s also putting yourself in a dangerous situation. Stay safe by keeping at least 50 feet away from wildlife.
Recycle & don't litter
Look for the large, square, brown public trash cans located all throughout town. Most are partnered with a recycling receptacle, making it easy to dispose of everything you need to. You can toss in most recyclables (
view detailed recycling guide), including:
- Glass
- Aluminum
- Tin
- Plastic (#1 and #2 only)
- Cardboard
- Paper
If you have a large amount of recycling, you can take it to
Mammoth Disposal located in the industrial park just off Meridian Blvd. at the east end of town.
Your first step toward more sustainable recreation can be simple: read and sign the Mammoth Lakes Promise to commit to keeping Mammoth Lakes unreal.
