The environmental team at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex near Orlando frequently receives questions about conservation practices. In an environment where thousands of visitors congregate daily, small actions can have a big impact. Located on the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, with 140,000 acres of protected land, Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex partners with NASA to protect and preserve our planet through initiatives like Delaware North Companies' GreenPath program, which seeks to reduce our environmental footprint.
Reducing Single-Use Plastics
Eco-friendly alternatives such as biodegradable straws and lids are offered throughout the facility. Additionally, cafeteria utensils and containers are made from recycled pulp, and bags provided in the Space Shop are made from bio-based plastic and eco-friendly ink. They also encourage the use of recycled bags made from post-consumer plastic bottles. Water bottle refill stations are available throughout the Visitor Complex.
Wildlife Protection
Given its location on the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, steps have been taken to protect local wildlife. LED lighting at the Apollo/Saturn V Center meets sea turtle protection requirements. Baffles have also been installed to discourage birds from joining visitors at feeding areas. Additionally, visitors are strongly encouraged to refrain from feeding wildlife. Native and Florida-appropriate plants are often used to reduce irrigation, and the grounds are not fertilized from June 1 through September 30 to help minimize the impact on the Indian River Lagoon. Recycling
Single
-stream bins collect and recycle plastic bottles, cardboard, aluminum cans, and non-food-contaminated paper. They also manage recycling of shredded paper, toner cartridges, batteries, light fixtures, metal, wood, concrete, and tires. Employees launched an initiative in 2022 to recycle shrink wrap and bags. In two years, more than 3,175 kilos have been recycled.
Energy
They have transitioned to LED lighting both indoors and outdoors and have incorporated five solar trees into the complex whose energy is returned to the park's electrical grid. They also use electric vehicles as an alternative to gasoline-powered vehicles and have chargers for visitors. Clean diesel tour buses are in the process of being equipped with engine reduction technology that allows the air conditioning to remain on while the main engine is reduced.
The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is implementing a number of additional measures to protect our planet. This includes the use of used cooking oil, recycling plastic bread tabs and plastic Astronaut Training Experience badges. The artificial turf in areas such as Atlantis North Lawn and Moon Tree Garden is made from bio-based material and as part of efforts to reduce material consumption (SmartGuide headsets) and improve accessibility, the complex has developed a free App that allows visitors to access detailed information about attractions and exhibits directly from their mobile devices.
Your collaboration is essential to the success of these green initiatives. During your visit, you can contribute by separating your waste, recycling plastic bottles and respecting wildlife by not feeding or harassing wild animals. You can also use your own reusable water bottle and purchase recycled bags at the complex's shops. In addition, by downloading the Official App, you will be contributing to the reduction of waste and enjoying a more personalized and accessible experience.