Senator Boyle, Representative Welsh, and members of the Joint Standing Committee on Environment and Natural Resources. My name is Sarah Lakeman. I am the Sustainable Maine Policy Advocate for the Natural Resources Council of Maine and I appreciate this opportunity to testify in Support of LD 1634. NRCM was involved in shaping and passing LD Read More
product stewardship
Maine Enacts Law to Create New Paint Recycling Program
NRCM press release (Augusta, ME) – Maine is set to become the seventh state in the country with a law creating an industry-run collection and recycling program for leftover household paint. The law will provide Maine residents with a safe, convenient, and environmentally responsible way to dispose of their leftover latex and oil paint, while Read More
LePage on Plastic Foam Ban: Don’t Be ‘Nanny’
He co-signs a letter to Portland councilors as a task force urges them to prohibit polystyrene use. by Randy Billings, staff writer Portland Press Herald news story PORTLAND â Gov. Paul LePage and a national conservative group have come out against a proposed ban on plastic-foam products in Maine’s largest city. The proposal would prohibit Read More
Maine Bill Could Create Paint Product Stewardship Recycling Program
Environmental Leader news story The Maine Legislature enacted a bill to create an industry-run collection and recycling program for leftover household paint. If allowed to become law by Governor Paul LePage, the bill (LD 1308) would create a product stewardship program that would provide convenient used paint collection sites at participating paint retail stores and Read More
Maine Leaders Try and Fail to Dilute Recycling’s Success
‘Product stewardship’s regulations â even those with industry and bipartisan support â meet staunch resistance from, among others, a commissioner with former ties to corporate interests. by Colin Woodard, staff writer Portland Press Herald news story Third of three parts HERE’S WHAT WE FOUND A Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram investigation has found Patricia Aho, Read More
Maine DEP Needs an Advocate, Not a Lobbyist
A newspaper investigation shows an agency that puts corporate interests ahead of people. Portland Press Herald editorial Corporations can hire lobbyists to fight for them and influence public policy. Ordinary people can’t. They depend on the government to be their advocate. When the lobbyist and the government are the same, the ordinary people are the Read More
Maine Lawmakers Pass Bill to Create Paint Recycling Program
Has Broad Support from Paint Industry, Towns, Environmental Groups, and Retail Stores NRCM and PSI press release (Augusta, ME)—With strong bipartisan support, the Maine Legislature today enacted a bill to create an industry-run collection and recycling program for leftover household paint. If allowed to become law by Governor Paul LePage, the bill (LD 1308) would Read More
When Talking Trash, We Should Put Disposal Programs in the Mix
Michael Boardman Portland Press Herald opinion piece PORTLAND – If there’s one topic that keeps popping up in the national news, it’s what to do with our trash. Americans produce more waste than any other country, more than half of which is residential garbage. Some of this garbage is in the form of household hazardous Read More
Support of LD 1308, An Act to Establish a Stewardship Program for Architectural Paint
Good afternoon Senator Boyle, Representative Welsh, and distinguished members of the Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources. My name is Abby King, I am the Toxics Policy Advocate with the Natural Resources Council of Maine and I am here to testify in support of LD 1308. This bill provides a proven solution to the Read More
