The holidays are a time full of tradition, nostalgia, friends, and family….and unfortunately a lot of waste. But it doesn’t have to be that way. You can find ways to lower your impact and even support our environment by creating new traditions. Here are some dos and don’ts for an environmentally friendly holiday season. DO: Read More
recycling
Explainer: How Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging Will Benefit Maine
Maine is the first state in the nation to hold big corporations and brands accountable for the plastic waste and packaging they have created. Our new Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for Packaging law (LD 1541) will increase recycling rates, reduce packaging pollution, and save taxpayers money. This is a very big deal, folks. And not because we’re the first, but because it Read More
The Truth about Maine’s Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging Bill
Maine people want to recycle, but it has become too costly and too confusing. This is because much of our packaging waste cannot be easily recycled, and Maine’s municipalities are struggling to foot the bill and must raise taxes to support recycling programs. It’s high time to require the corporate producers of packaging waste—like Amazon, Read More
Support of LD 1541, An Act to Support and Improve Municipal Recycling Programs and Save Taxpayer Money
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 testify in strong support of LD 1541. The language is very similar to LD Read More
Why Consumers Alone Can’t “Fix” Recycling
Are you recycling right? Chances are, not always. If someone asked you today, how confident do you feel that you are recycling correctly? If a recycling expert were to take a look inside your blue bin, would you be nervous? If you’re uncertain about the items you’ve been placing out at the curb, rest assured, Read More
Opposition to LD 1208, An Act To Amend the State’s Electronic Waste Recycling Law
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 speak to you in opposition to LD 1208. We oppose this bill because it Read More
It’s Time to Make Recycling Work for Maine’s Taxpayers and the Environment
As a Maine business focused on waste reduction, we hear first-hand from Maine residents who are frustrated by overly packaged products. Consumers are told to reduce their waste, but rarely are low- and no-waste options available to them on the shelves. At Go Go Refill, we’re changing that because we believe low-waste options should be available Read More
Top 5 Take-Aways from Maine’s Latest Waste and Recycling Report
The Sustainable Maine team at the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM) is laser-focused on three bills that will make a huge difference in addressing serious problems and troubling trends with our recycling and landfilling system. Maine people want to do the right thing for the environment, but we need better policies in place if Read More
Reflections on the 2021 Maine Legislature
If there’s one thing that’s for certain about 2021, it’ll be like no other we’ve experienced in our decades advocating for the environment. With a new Administration in Washington and Maine’s 130th legislative session kicking off, we have an opportunity for a reset, both in tone and substance. That’s how the Natural Resources Council of Read More
