People everywhere are talking about plastic pollution more than ever. Researchers all over the world are studying the unnerving prevalence of plastic in the environment and documenting its devastating impacts on our ecosystems—and their findings are startling. You may have heard the terrifying estimate that plastic will outweigh fish in the ocean by 2050; or… Continue Reading
sustainability
Lessons in Food Waste at Hall-Dale Middle School
In June, we were fortunate to be visited by members of the NRCM staff including Beth Comeau, Lisa Pohlmann, and Lily Bailey, the intern who was assigned to work with and support the Hall-Dale Middle School Environmental Club. The NRCM staff members were very enthusiastic as they asked the students to reflect on our food… Continue Reading
Manchester Votes to Ban Plastic Bags in Retail Stores
The vote appears to make Manchester the first capital-area municipality to ban single-use plastic bags in local stores. By Keith Edwards, Staff Writer Central Maine Newspapers news story MANCHESTER — Residents agreed Tuesday in secret-ballot voting to ban plastic bags in retail stores in town. The vote appears to make Manchester the first capital-area municipality… Continue Reading
Hall-Dale Continues Composting Challenge
Environmental Club members have continued to work toward consistent cafeteria composting at Hall-Dale Middle School, but not without encountering challenges along the way. Our original farmer had a very busy schedule—between taking care of his animals and picking up food waste from others around town, he could not always get to us in a timely… Continue Reading
Landfilling Tons of Municipal Waste is an Environmental Tragedy
By Harry Sanborn, Special to the BDN Bangor Daily News op-ed Tens of thousands of tons of municipal solid waste from all over eastern Maine are now heading directly to landfills. This is a monumental tragedy for Maine’s environment, and it is sad that state officials charged with protecting Maine’s environment seem to be looking… Continue Reading
June 23, 2018: “A Plastic Ocean” Movie Screening, Campobello Island
NRCM Sustainable Maine Project Director Sarah Lakeman was the featured speaker following a screening of the film, “A Plastic Ocean,” on Saturday, June 23 on Campobello Island, New Brunswick, Canada. Screening of “A Plastic Ocean” Saturday, June 23 from 7:00-8:30 p.m. (Atlantic Standard Time) Welshpool Hall, 11 Welshpool Wharf Road Campobello Island, New Brunswick, Canada… Continue Reading
June 11, 2018: “Bag It” Film Screening, Ellsworth
The Natural Resources Council of Maine and the Ellsworth Green Plan held a screening of the documentary film, “Bag It,” about the problem of single-use plastics in our society. This event was the kick-off for a community effort to limit plastic shopping bags in Ellsworth. Watch the film trailer here. Americans use 60,000 plastic bags… Continue Reading
June 4, 2018: “A Plastic Ocean” Movie Screening, Damariscotta
kNOw S.U.P. (No Single-Use-Plastics) hosted a screening of “A Plastic Ocean,” on Monday, June 4 at the Lincoln Theater in Damariscotta. The film begins when journalist Craig Leeson, searching for the elusive blue whale, discovers plastic waste in what should be pristine ocean. In this adventure documentary, Craig teams up with free diver Tanya Streeter and an… Continue Reading
Saving Songbirds Starts with Your Morning Coffee
“The air is crowded with birds — beautiful, tender, intelligent birds — to whom life is a song.” — George Henry Lewes I woke this morning to the musical magic of birdsong—is there anything better? Despite the chilly weather, and the freezing rain earlier this week, songbirds are singing, and IT IS SPRING. In an… Continue Reading
