Measure goes into effect in April 2015 PORTLAND, Maine —The Portland City Council voted 6-3 in favor of a 5-cent fee on disposable shopping bags during their meeting on Monday night. The measure will go into effect in April 2015. The ordinance originally called for a 10 cent fee, but that has been cut in Read More
bag ordinances
Comments in Support of the Expanded Polystyrene Foam Ban Ordinance and the Ordinance to Institute Fees on Single-Use Disposable Bags
Good evening Mayor Brennan and members of the Council. My name is Sarah Lakeman, I am the Sustainable Maine Policy Advocate for the Natural Resources Council of Maine. I am speaking as a Portland resident and on behalf of NRCM’s more than 16,000 members and supporters, of which more than 1,100 live in Portland. I Read More
Portland Council Taking Up 5-cent Bag Fee, Ban on Foam Containers
Supporters say the two proposals will help reduce trash in the city’s waterways, but opponents say the over-regulation could hurt businesses. By Kevin Miller, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story The Portland City Council on Monday will consider a pair of anti-litter proposals – including a 5-cent fee on disposable shopping bags – that Read More
Volunteers Clean Portland’s Back Cove Ahead of Vote on Plastic Bag Fee
WMTW-8 news story PORTLAND, Maine —The Natural Resources Council of Maine organized a cleanup of Portland’s Back Cove Sunday afternoon. About 20 people came out for the annual Baxter Boulevard Green Up and Clean Up event. They removed and sorted about 20 pounds of trash. “We found 25 bags just in one group alone today Read More
Five Cents for a Disposable Bag? No Thanks, I’ve Brought My Own!
We all want to see fewer plastic bags dangling in our trees, flapping on our fences, polluting our oceans, and clogging up our storm drains—it’s how to solve this problem that’s cause for debate. Some people suggest that we should ban plastic bags altogether, that way there won’t be any to be littered. Others say Read More
Portland Panel Lowers Plastic Bag Fee to 5 Cents, Sends It to City Council
The new plan would also allow retailers to keep the nickel they charge for each disposable plastic or paper bag. By Kevin Miller, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story Members of Portland’s Transportation, Sustainability and Energy Committee voted 3-1 to endorse an anti-litter proposal that would require retailers to collect 5 cents for every Read More
NRCM Comments in Support of Instituting a Fee on Single-Use Disposable Bags
Comments at Portland City Council meeting My name is Sarah Lakeman, I am the Sustainable Maine Policy Advocate and Outreach Coordinator for the Natural Resources Council of Maine. I am speaking as a Portland resident and on behalf of NRCM’s more than 16,000 members and supporters, of which more than 1,100 are residents of Portland. I Read More
Proposed 10¢ Fee for Plastic Shopping Bags Advances in Portland
A working group’s endorsement sends the measure to a City Council subcommittee for review. By John Richardson, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story A proposal to attach a 10-cent fee to disposable shopping bags in the city of Portland has won the endorsement of a special working group and will head to a City Read More
