Senator Saviello, Representative Welsh, and members of the Joint Standing Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, my name is Sarah Lakeman and I am the Sustainable Maine Policy Advocate for the Natural Resources Council of Maine. I appreciate this opportunity to testify in support of LD 85. There is a strong case for phasing out Read More
plastic pollution
Reusable Bag Ordinance
Single-use disposable shopping bags are one of the most commonly used and quickly discarded items in our communities. When stores routinely hand out an unlimited number of single-use disposable bags, we end up creating a lot of unnecessary waste. Simply reminding people that it’s a good idea to shop with reusable bags isn’t enough to Read More
Portland Leads in Tackling Cigarette Butt Litter
NRCM news release Portland, ME – Today, business, city, and environmental leaders joined together to roll-out a new initiative to install and manage “Sidewalk Buttlers,” throughout downtown Portland to remove, reduce, and recycle the cigarette butts that are littering our city streets and polluting Casco Bay. Cigarette butts are a significant source of litter, and Read More
Divided Portland Council Bans Polystyrene Containers, Adds Fees on Paper and Plastic Bags
By Seth Koenig, BDN Staff Bangor Dailiy News news story PORTLAND, Maine — The Portland City Council voted late Monday night to implement a ban on polystyrene food containers, as well as tack a five-cent fee onto paper and plastic bags customers take from check-out lines. Both moves were panned by business groups, who lamented Read More
Portland Council Adopts Fee for Bags, Bans Foam Containers
The 6-3 votes follow sharply divided testimony between supporters and opponents of the plan. By Kevin Miller, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story Portland city councilors voted late Monday night to charge consumers a nickel for every disposable shopping bag they get and to ban foam containers for food and beverages in an effort Read More
Portland City Council Bans Foam Packaging, Endorses Bag Fee
Tonight, the Portland City Council voted 6-3 to ban foam packaging in city stores and restaurants, and voted 6-3 to enact a 5-cent fee on disposable shopping bags. News Release “We congratulate Portland for approving these ordinances, which will clean up Portland’s neighborhoods, streets, and Casco Bay by encouraging the use of reusable bags and Read More
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
Foam Ban, Bag Fees Going Back to Portland City Council
by David Harry The Forecaster news story PORTLAND — Proposals to ban polystyrene foam containers and cups, and to place a fee on paper and plastic shopping bags, will return to the full City Council for first readings on Monday, June 2. The amendments to Chapter 12 of the city code were last considered in September Read More