This spring citizens in Waterville sent a resounding message when they voted by a margin of nearly two to one to uphold the city’s Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT) waste management program. Waterville’s PAYT program launched in September 2014 and has exceeded all expectations and the city’s waste reduction targets. City Officials say the PAYT program, in combination Read More
solid waste
Composting Heats Up in Maine
Cities and towns start to realize the value of turning food waste into black gold, and companies vie for the business. By Mary Pols, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story AUBURN — Inside the steaming rows of piled-up compost at the We Compost It! operation in Auburn is your standard smorgasbord of commercial and Read More
A Bold New Initiative in South Portland
South Portland is serious about sustainability. This year the city hired its first Sustainability Coordinator, and in her first year on the job Julie Rosenbach has set some ambitious goals for the city. Earlier this year South Portland announced a new goal — zero waste at all city events. This new benchmark is part of Read More
Compost: Good for More Than Just Your Garden!
A growing awareness of the benefits of composting is paying dividends beyond those found in the healthy produce and beautiful flowers compost can help create. Students at Saco Middle School (and many other schools around Maine), through hands-on learning, are discovering the multiple benefits of composting. In addition to the obvious benefits you can taste, Read More
How Maine Towns are Trying to Throw Away Less and Save More
By Christopher Burns, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story Maine residents and businesses produced 2.5 million tons of waste in 2013, working out to 2.8 pounds of garbage per person each day. While that’s less garbage per person than the national average (4.4 pounds), getting rid of all that waste is expensive. It’s consistently Read More
NRCM Testimony Neither For Nor Against LD 1366, An Act to Promote Recycling Program Integration and Efficiencies
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 Project Director for the Natural Resources Council of Maine. I appreciate this opportunity to testify Neither For Nor Against LD 1366. NRCM was involved with passage of Maine’s Read More
NRCM Testimony in Opposition to LD 1204, An Act to Increase Recycling and Composting by Creating the Maine Recycling Fund
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 Project Director for the Natural Resources Council of Maine. I appreciate this opportunity to testify in opposition to LD 1204. NRCM agrees that policy changes could help get Read More
Bill Would Eliminate Deposit Fee on Larger Bottles
WGME-TV news story AUGUSTA (WGME)—A bill in Augusta would eliminate bottle deposit fees on any bottle larger than 32 ounces, which includes 2-liter soda bottles and large wine bottles. Those against the change say it would seriously hurt the redemption center business in Maine and lead to more littering. “This would be a windfall for Read More
Maine Needs Recycling Boost, But Not at Bottle Bill’s Expense
By The BDN Editorial Board Bangor Daily News editorial If reality reflected state law, Mainers today would recycle and compost at least half their solid waste. They would have reached that threshold in 2009. Instead, Maine’s recycling rate has remained stubbornly close to 40 percent for years, with no sustained progress to speak of. The Read More
