Senator Brenner, Representative Tucker, and members of the Joint Standing Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, my name is Sarah Nichols, and I am the Sustainable Maine Director for the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM). I appreciate this opportunity to express our support for LD 602 as part of Maine’s plastic pollution reduction efforts. Read More
plastic straws
My Maine This Week: Straws by Brian Skillings
Happy Earth Day! This week we are sharing some photos taken by NRCM activist Brian Skillings of Windham, Maine. Brian posted these photos on social media and shared them with us after he spent Sunday, April 14 helping NRCM and Green With Envy Salons staff clean up around Back Cove Trail in Portland. Brian writes, Read More
Reducing Waste One Cup (of Coffee) at a Time
On April 2, 2019, Tandem Coffee Roasters launched an ambitious initiative to drastically reduce waste at both of their locations in Portland. The company has lowered all drink prices by 25 cents and started charging customers 25 cents if they need a single-use cup for their drink order. The main intention is to get people Read More
Wiscasset’s Iconic Red’s Eats: “Red is Our Favorite Color, but We Love Going Green!”
I have been an animal- and nature-lover since I was a little girl. It comes as no surprise to those who know me to know how important the issue of protecting nature is to me. Living and working in beautiful, coastal Maine is a gift…one we all must not take for granted. Our restaurant is Read More
Red’s Eats Looks to Go Green, Cut Out Plastics in 2019
by Nathan Strout, Times Record Staff Times Record news story WISCASSET — Renowned Wiscasset establishment Red’s Eats is ditching plastic straws for its 2019 season, and hopes to dump its other plasticware in the near future. “I have already purchased red (and) white paper straws for the opening of Red’s Eats and a couple of Read More
Plastic Waste is Everywhere. Here are Some Ideas for Mainers to Reduce Their Use of It.
By Abigail Curtis, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story Shlomit Auciello of Rockland hasn’t bought plastic wrap, or new Tupperware-style plastic containers, in decades. She avoids using microfiber fleece and washes plastic bags to reuse them again and again. She knows that makes her a bit quirky by modern American standards, but she hopes Read More
Food Businesses Trending Away from Single-use Plastic Items
by Laurie Schreiber Mainebiz news story Increasing numbers of Maine food businesses and lodgings are putting themselves in the forefront of national and international trends to switch out from petroleum-based items like straws, to-go containers and disposable cups and plates, to eco-friendly compostable versions. The Migis Hotel Group switched from plastic drinking straws to paper Read More
Persuasive 2nd-Grader Prompts Portland to Ban Plastic Straws in City Hall Cafe
The city manager says he’s happy to implement ‘Phoebe’s Rule’ banning plastic straws, and hopes that others will do the same. by Julie Pike, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story Portland has joined the growing backlash against disposable plastic straws by ending their use in the Clock Tower Cafe at City Hall. The move Read More
Camden’s Sea Dog Brewing Co. Reduces Use of Plastic Straws
By Susan Mustapich Village Soup news story CAMDEN — A simple suggestion from staff at the Camden Sea Dog Brewing Co. is rapidly cutting down on the number of plastic straws used at the restaurant and brewpub. Earlier this month, wait staff and bartenders stopped putting straws in most drinks, including water, unless a straw Read More
