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
solid waste
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
Waterville Residents Find They’re Liking Pay-as-you-throw
City officials fielded suggestions to pick up recycling more often, provide better bags, and offer more education about what may be recycled. By Amy Calder, Staff Writer Morning Sentinel news story WATERVILLE — Most people who spoke Wednesday at a meeting on the city’s pay-as-you-throw trash collection system said they like the program but not Read More
NRCM Testimony in Support of Resolve, To Increase Recycling in Maine through Increased Composting and Energy Recovery from Organic Wastes (LD 659); and An Act To Increase Organic Waste Recycling in the State (712)
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 support of LD 659 and LD 712. As many of you know, Read More
Lawmakers Seeking to Reduce Waste with Composting Bill
By Jennifer Mitchell MPBN news story AUGUSTA, Maine—There’s a better place for all those eggshells, coffee grounds, and muffin stumps. That’s the gist of a bill before the legislature that seeks to encourage the composting or transformation of organic waste, instead of having those items chucked into the bin. “Organic waste when it’s put in Read More
Testimony in Opposition to LD 105, An Act To Enhance the Competitiveness of Maine’s Biomass Facilities by Exempting from Waste Handling Fees Certain Construction and Demolition Debris
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 Policy Advocate for the Natural Resources Council of Maine. I appreciate this opportunity to testify in opposition to LD 105. NRCM urges the committee to defend Maine’s Solid Read More
Mid Coast Hospital Adds Compost to Environmentally Friendly Practices
Boosting its environmentally friendly practices at the start of this month, Mid Coast Hospital began a composting program that reduces the amount of garbage disposed of into the waste stream, while supplying nutrient rich soil for gardening and landscaping. “As part of our commitment to the health and well being of the community, we strive Read More
Maine DEP Denies Proposal for Argyle Landfill
By Christopher Burns, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story BANGOR, Maine — For the time being, the controversial proposal for a landfill in either Greenbush or Argyle has been shut down by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, the agency announced in a news release Wednesday. The Maine DEP stated in its denial of Read More
