SUSTAINABILITY IN MAMMOTH LAKES
Be part of sustainability in Mammoth Lakes!
Check out this great article from the Town of Mammoth Lakes Sustainability Coordinator about all the great work being done and learn more about how you can get involved!
Plus, the annual Town of Mammoth Lakes Clean-Up Day + Sustainability Fair is coming up:
Town Clean-Up Day and Sustainability Fair
May 16th
9am – 1pm
Community Recreation Center (CRC)
What is sustainability?
People and governments around the world are joining a movement to prioritize sustainability, implementing strategies to meet the needs of the present without compromising the needs of the future. Although priorities and strategies may differ from place to place and from person to person, what ties the sustainability movement together is the collective action to prepare for the future. Sustainability centers the planet and its people, advocating for a viable future for all. The Town of Mammoth Lakes is proud to be taking sustainable action to ensure that Mammoth is a place where people want to live, work, visit, and recreate in for years to come.
What is Mammoth doing to increase sustainability?
The state of California continues to expand its solid waste, recycling, and sustainability legislation. CalRecycle, the state Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery, emphasizes the transition to a circular economy, which minimizes waste by prioritizing waste reduction and the reuse of existing products to keep materials out of the landfill and in use for extended periods of time. Changes at the state level result in new regulations, but also opportunities for growth at the local level.
To better manage state requirements, to take advantage of growth opportunities, and to educate the public on the importance of sustainable action, the Town of Mammoth Lakes created the Sustainability Coordinator position in 2024. This position develops and implements Town-specific sustainability programs, collaborates with community partners, conducts outreach at community events, visits classrooms across the school district, manages grants, and works to enhance sustainability across Town.
In addition to incorporating state regulations into Town code, the Town has also enacted local measures to emphasize its focus on sustainability. In 2024, the Town banned Styrofoam foodware containers (a year before the statewide ban was enacted), and in 2025, limited the sale and distribution of single-use plastic water bottles (and was one of the first towns in the state to do so!). By focusing on waste reduction, especially hard-to-recycle and long-lasting plastics, less material needs to be disposed of, which reduces pollution. Reducing materials that end up in our waste stream directly impacts what could appear in the environment as litter, which can harm wildlife and waterways. But why target single-use plastics? This strategy is used by governments, companies, and individuals to increase sustainability by encouraging the use of alternative products that already exist, such as reusable water bottles, glass foodware containers, and metal forks. Even small actions such as reducing single-use items and reusing products instead have big impacts on the amount of waste produced and disposed of. This directly reduces overall environmental impact.
The Sustainability Coordinator is also instrumental in the development and coordination of the Town’s Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP). Funded by a CalTrans Sustainable Transportation grant, the CAAP will increase local resiliency to the impacts of climate change, as well as mitigate local contributions. The project engages a variety of stakeholders across the community to help inform its development. Meaningful collaboration, intentional management, and mindful action are at the forefront of this position to ensure a successful future is rooted in community action. This project will increase sustainability and resiliency not only for current community members, but for the future community as well. For more ways to get involved with the CAAP project, explore the resources linked at the end of this article.
How can I get involved?
Be part of sustainability in Mammoth Lakes! Take action this month by participating in the annual Town Clean-Up Day and Defensible Space event, held in collaboration between the Town and Mammoth Disposal. Although this event has evolved over the years to meet changing community needs, it has always embodied sustainability, focusing on removing and properly disposing waste. During the two-day event, Mammoth Disposal accepts e-waste, bulky waste, and yard waste at the Transfer Station, while litter is picked up around Town by passionate volunteer groups, removing pollution from the environment.
In 2025, the Sustainability Fair was added to the Town Clean Up Day event. The Fair takes place at the Community Recreation Center at Mammoth Creek Park, a hub of community, engagement, and recreation itself – the perfect setting for an event celebrating the planet and its people. Come grab a bag to assist in the clean-up, then learn more about the incredible sustainable initiatives of local organizations such as utilities services, waste management entities, ecosystem health monitors, wildfire resiliency planning, and community engagement opportunities. Sustainability starts with community action and working together to ensure a healthy future for all. Celebrate the sustainable movement, connect with fellow environmental enthusiasts, and get involved!
Upcoming Event Information
Town Clean-Up Day and Sustainability Fair will be on May 16th, 9am – 1pm @ the Community Recreation Center (CRC).
View the event flyer here.Take the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP) survey or visit the webpage to let us know your thoughts on the development of the CAAP.
Questions?
Town Sustainability Coordinator
Emily Zujewski
ezujewski@townofmammothlakes.ca.gov
760-965-3621
visit the Town Sustainability Webpage.
About Mammoth Lakes Recreation
Formed in 2014, Mammoth Lakes Recreation’s mission is to deliver cutting edge sustainable recreation, mobility, and arts & culture opportunities and infrastructure for the benefit of the community and natural environment of Mammoth Lakes. For more information, go to www.mammothlakesrecreation.org.