60+
Sustainability grants distributed to local towns, schools, libraries, and community groups to implement practical, effective measures that conserve our natural resources
35%
Food produced in Maine that is never eaten, and 361,000 tons of food annually are wasted or lost
10+
Product stewardship laws to hold corporations accountable for cleaning up difficult to dispose of waste, including packaging, mercury thermostats, and batteries
40,000
tons of material recycled each year thanks to the Bottle Bill and local redemption centers, including ALL glass containers and more than 60% of all plastics
What’s Next for Maine’s EPR for Packaging Program?
If you’ve been following along with us, you may know that Maine was the first state in the nation to pass an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) law for product packaging. …
Latest Sustainable Communities News
Areas of Focus
Product Stewardship
NRCM champions Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) or “product stewardship” laws because they’re proven to save taxpayers money, reduce waste, and protect our environment. Traditional recycling programs are run and funded by municipal governments. EPR programs shift the costs of dealing with difficult and dangerous items to the corporations and manufacturers who make and sell them in Maine.
Recycling
Recycling conserves natural resources, reduces pollution, creates jobs, and helps municipalities avoid rising disposal and cleanup costs. Despite decades of effort, Maine has struggled to meet its long‑standing recycling goals. NRCM advocates for stronger, more effective recycling programs to serve Maine towns through systemic policy solutions.
Reuse
One of the most cost effective ways to reduce waste is by promoting reuse and right to repair. Across Maine, a growing network of people and local communities are organizing efforts to promote reuse and repair. NRCM works in partnership with these groups to develop policies that update state law, making it easier to save money and reduce environmental impact by implementing reuse and repair activities across Maine.
Food Waste
Excessive food waste in Maine puts the superpollutant methane into our air and contributes to injustice because hundreds of thousands of children and adults don’t have access to healthy, quality food. Learn about how you can reduce food waste and what NRCM is doing to help Maine school, businesses, and others reduce food waste.
EPR for Packaging
On July 12, 2021, Maine became the first state in the nation to pass an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for Packaging law requiring large corporations and manufacturers to help pay for the cost of recycling their wasteful packaging, much of it plastic. Maine has long championed product stewardship laws to safely and effectively dispose of difficult-to-dispose or dangerous products.
Sustainability Grants
To help advance sustainable community initiatives throughout the state, NRCM offers grants of up to $2,000 for schools, organized nonprofit committees, municipalities, and community libraries to help them reach their sustainability goals.
Support Environmental Advocacy in Maine
Petitions & Action Alerts
View and sign current petitions to protect Maine’s environment. Your involvement can help turn petitions into real action.
Become a Member
A contribution is one of the simplest, most impactful ways to support environmental action in Maine.
Contact Your Elected Official
Speak up on the issues you care about. Your voice matters to the people making decisions.
Keep Up with Sustainable Communities News
Stay informed and ready to act when your help is needed to protect the nature and future of Maine.
Making Sustainability Work in Maine
We’ve seen meaningful progress across Maine because of policies and partnerships that shift responsibility economically upstream, reduce waste, and make sustainable choices easier for communities and businesses.
