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 Read More
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 Read More
Bath’s Bag Ban Kicks Off Sunday…on Earth Day
by Nathan Strout, Times Record Staff Times Record news story The city of Bath will celebrate Earth Day on Sunday by banning single-use plastic bags and polystyrene containers. The ordinance was approved by the city council in November 2017 with almost zero opposition. The long interim period between passage and the ordinance going into effect Read More
Portland, South Portland Plan to Fight Against Climate Change
Municipal officials hope to develop plans for each community to reduce carbon footprints and counter the effects of global warming. by Kelley Bouchard, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story In less than 100 years, strolling from shop to shop along Commercial Street in Portland or running with your dog on Willard Beach in South Portland Read More
Rockland to Consider Ban on Plastic Bags, Styrofoam Containers
By Stephen Betts Village Soup news story ROCKLAND — The Rockland City Council will consider this month an ordinance to ban the use of single-use plastic bags and Styrofoam containers. In addition, the proposed law would impose an increasing fee on paper bags in an effort to encourage shoppers to use reusable shopping bags. Councilor Read More
York Teens Want Their Town to be the Latest to Ban Polystyrene Containers
By Deborah McDermott The York Weekly news story Four York High School seniors are taking democracy and a concern for the environment to heart, and have launched an online petition drive to ban polystyrene takeout containers from being used by restaurants in York. Margaret Wilkinson, Sophia Eytel, Anya Walsh and Sammi Pooler, all students in Read More
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! Read More
Bath Unanimously Passes Bag, Foam Bans, Will Charge Escalating Fee for Paper
New ordinance goes into affect on April 22, 2018 and will see the fee for paper bags increase from 5 to 15 cents over 3 years. by Chris Chase, Coastal Journal writer Portland Press Herald news story BATH — The City Council unanimously passed two separate ordinances tackling single-use plastic bag and polystyrene foam bans Read More
Cape Elizabeth Becomes Latest Town to Adopt Bag Fee, Ban Foam Containers
The Town Council approves ordinances similar to regulations in South Portland, Portland, Falmouth, Freeport and other Maine communities. by Kelley Bouchard, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story CAPE ELIZABETH — Next month, food sellers here will begin charging a fee for single-use carry-out bags and will no longer be allowed to use plastic foam Read More
