By The Associated Press Bangor Daily News news story A new Maine law bans lead fishing tackle in hopes of protecting loons. The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife says keeping lead fishing weights out of Maine waters will better the birds’ survival and spur population growth across the Northeast. Ingesting lead fishing tackle is… Continue Reading
Toxic Free Living
Brunswick Adopts New Pesticide Rules
Original ordinance from 2007 limited use in town by Juliette Laaka Times Record news story Brunswick will now give preference to organic pesticides over chemical treatments on all town-owned land, thanks to ordinance amendments adopted by the town council on Monday. The original land care ordinance, adopted in 2007, limited the use of pesticides on… Continue Reading
Bangor Woman, 80, Goes Solar at Home
By Meg Haskell, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story From her home on a corner lot in Bangor, Hope Brogunier, 80, is quietly staging a green revolution. Her side yard is a lightly tended jungle of shoulder-high raspberries, a fragrant, knee-deep drift of meadow anemones and a spiky sea of flowering goutweed. Bees bumble… Continue Reading
Belfast 5th Graders Saving the Environment
WABI-TV news story Fifth graders in Belfast are changing the way their school operates to help the environment. After learning about the detrimental effect of plastic on the environment, a group of students approached the director of food services at the Captain Albert Stevens Elementary School and suggested ways to limit the use of plastics…. Continue Reading
Out-of-state Lobbying Group Wants to Weaken Maine Laws. Legislators Shouldn’t Fall for It.
Bangor Daily News editorial A couple dozen Maine communities have enacted ordinances to protect their waterways and residents from pesticides. Now, Gov. Paul LePage, through a bill that appears to have been written by a pro-industry group, is seeking to outlaw such rules. The Maine Municipal Association, which represents the state’s towns and cities, explained… Continue Reading
NRCM Testimony “Neither For Nor Against” LD 57, An Act to Phase Out the Use of Single-use Plastic Shopping Bags
Senator Saviello, Representative Tucker, and members of the Joint Standing Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, my name is Ryan Parker and I am the Environmental Policy Outreach Coordinator for the Natural Resources Council of Maine. I appreciate this opportunity to testify Neither For Nor Against LD 57. The problems created by single-use disposable bags… Continue Reading
Belfast Locals Float Effort to Ban Plastic Bags
By Abigail Curtis, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story BELFAST, Maine — To the naked eye, the waters of Blue Hill and Penobscot bays appear pristine, blue and beautiful — a focal point for both residents and tourists who depend on the bays as a place to earn their livelihood or relax. But if… Continue Reading
2 Maine Towns Ban Plastic Shopping Bags
By The Associated Press MPBN news story FREEPORT, Maine – Voters in two Maine towns say they are finished with single-use plastic shopping bags. Kennebunk and Freeport residents both voted to ban the bags. Kennebunk’s ban applies to all single-use plastic shopping bags, while the Freeport ban applies only to food and grocery stores. York… Continue Reading
Freeport Approves Ban on Single-use Plastic Bags
The ordinance prohibits disposable plastic shopping bags and includes a 5-cent fee on paper bags. By Peter McGuire, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story FREEPORT — Voters approved a townwide ban on disposable plastic shopping bags Tuesday, joining a number of Maine communities putting restrictions on the items. Residents approved the ban 804-501, about… Continue Reading
