Each month, we highlight news stories and opinion pieces related to NRCM’s work to protect Maine’s air, land, water, and wildlife. March 2024 The federal government announced on March 15th the wind energy area in the Gulf of Maine where offshore wind development may occur. The Bangor Daily News editorial board agrees with the more than 500 Read More
solid waste
Maine EPR for Packaging Law Close to Reality
In 2021, Maine adopted a first-in-the-nation Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for Packaging law to reduce taxpayer costs and improve recycling by encouraging producers to create less wasteful packaging. Put simply: It’s unfair that Maine taxpayers and communities are on the hook for the wasteful packaging produced by large companies—much of it single-use plastic—that ends up Read More
LD 718, An Act To Increase the Beneficial Reuse of Construction and Demolition Debris
Testimony in Opposition to LD 718, An Act To Increase the Beneficial Reuse of Construction and Demolition Debris Senator Brenner, Representative Gramlich, 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 Read More
LD 1171, Raise Funding to Support Waste Reduction, Reuse, Recycling, and Composting
Testimony Neither for Nor Against LD 1171, An Act to Raise Funding to Support Waste Reduction, Reuse, Recycling and Composting in Maine Senator Brenner, Representative Gramlich, 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 Read More
LD 175, An Act to Increase the Use of Municipal Waste-to-energy Processes as a Source of Renewable Energy
Testimony in Opposition to LD 175, An Act to Increase the Use of Municipal Waste-to-energy Processes as a Source of Renewable Energy Senator Lawrence, Representative Zeigler, and members of the Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology, my name is Sarah Nichols, and I am the Sustainable Maine Director for the Natural Resources Council of Read More
February 16, 2023: Maine’s Waste Policies and Pathways to a Low-waste Future, Readfield
Did you know that the average Maine resident tosses out nearly four pounds of trash every day? There are lots of ways that individuals and businesses can reduce their impact on Maine’s environment by cutting down on their trash. NRCM Sustainable Maine Outreach Coordinator Vanessa Berry spoke at the Readfield Town Office. 8 Old Kents Read More
September 15, 2022: Zoom in with Edward Humes: Our Dirty Love Affair with Trash
What is America’s largest export, most prodigious product, and greatest legacy — the biggest thing we make? Our trash. NRCM welcomed author and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Edward Humes to discuss his book, Garbology. After sharing more about America’s “dirty love affair with trash,” Humes also shared stories of hope: families, companies, and whole communities who Read More
Maine Needs More Solutions for Recycling Construction Waste
When many Mainers think about waste, their minds often wander to trash that they throw out at home or work. However, there is another culprit that is quickly filling up our landfills and harming residents of Maine. Construction and demolition debris (CDD), such as scrap metal, concrete, and wood, which is created from the tearing Read More
News & Noteworthy — April – June 2022
Read some highlights from June 2022 news stories and opinion pieces related to the environment, including Maine’s air, land, water, and wildlife, in this News & Noteworthy from the Natural Resources Council of Maine. June 2022 We are going to cover the news from the past two weeks in this week’s News & Noteworthy. We Read More