People everywhere are talking about plastic pollution more than ever. Researchers all over the world are studying the unnerving prevalence of plastic in the environment and documenting its devastating impacts on our ecosystems—and their findings are startling. You may have heard the terrifying estimate that plastic will outweigh fish in the ocean by 2050; or… Continue Reading
bag ordinances
Manchester Votes to Ban Plastic Bags in Retail Stores
The vote appears to make Manchester the first capital-area municipality to ban single-use plastic bags in local stores. By Keith Edwards, Staff Writer Central Maine Newspapers news story MANCHESTER — Residents agreed Tuesday in secret-ballot voting to ban plastic bags in retail stores in town. The vote appears to make Manchester the first capital-area municipality… Continue Reading
July 14, 2018: “Bag It” Movie Screening, Bethel
Have you ever thought about how much plastic our society consumes? Plastic bags, straws, food wrappers, cups, utensils, and other “disposable” single-use plastics made from oil are filling our landfills and polluting our oceans. How can we all take steps in our own lives to reduce our plastic consumption? This epidemic is the focus of… Continue Reading
Steamrolling Forward: Multiple Maine Towns Take Steps to Reduce Plastic Pollution
You may not have noticed amid all the hubbub around national issues and politics, but some other pretty important votes took place in Maine on, or near, this past Election Day. Multiple towns took important steps to help create more sustainable communities through the elimination or reduction of plastic pollution. And that is good news!… Continue Reading
Why Support a Reusable Bag Ordinance?
Reusable bags make sense. Reusable bags are stronger than disposable ones, break less often, and can help you make fewer trips into the house with your groceries. Most grocery items are already packaged to prevent spills or leaks, but you can launder your reusable bags if needed. There are so many problems with single-use bags,… Continue Reading
Plastic Bag Bans and Fees Catching on in Maine
Portland’s ordinance went into effect on April 15, and other communities are poised to follow. By Mary Pols, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story In the six months since Portland passed an ordinance calling for most food retailers to charge a nickel for each single-use plastic or paper bag, reusable bags have gotten extremely… Continue Reading
South Portland Joins Portland in Imposing 5-cent Fee on Plastic Shopping Bags
The City Council also bans the use of polystyrene packaging. By Dennis Hoey, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story SOUTH PORTLAND — The city of South Portland joined Portland on Monday night as the only municipalities in Maine that have adopted ordinances requiring consumers to pay 5 cents for disposable, plastic shopping bags at… Continue Reading
South Portland City Council Approves 5-cent Shopping Bag Fee, Ban on Polystyrene Packaging
The new ordinances mirror similar steps approved in Portland in April. By Joe Lawlor, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story SOUTH PORTLAND — The City Council on Wednesday approved a 5-cent charge for disposable shopping bags at retailers and a ban on polystyrene products, mimicking Portland’s ordinances that went into effect in April. Both… Continue Reading
South Portland Poised to Adopt 5-cent Fee for One-use Shopping Bags
Mayor Linda Cohen expects little push-back on copying Portland’s rules that ban polystyrene containers and curb the use of throwaway bags. By Matt Byrne, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story SOUTH PORTLAND — The City Council is poised to replicate the Portland ordinance that bans the use of polystyrene and levies a 5-cent fee… Continue Reading
