Senator Carson, Representative Tucker, 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 (NRCM). I appreciate this opportunity to speak to you in support of LD 710. NRCM is a strong advocate Read More
Sustainable Maine
What You Can Do about the Unfolding Recycling Crisis
It’s been more than a year since China announced that they will no longer buy the world’s contaminated recyclables, and we are feeling the effects here in Maine. Unless the baled recycled materials (stuff we put in our household recycling bins, among other sources of recyclables) meet a very strict, almost perfect, quality standard—only 0.05% Read More
Adult Ed, Recycling Tours: How to School Yourself in Sustainability
Mainers can take a class in Lewiston about electric cars, check out the ecomaine facility, or get a helping hand from the Natural Resources Council of Maine – just to name a few resources. By Ray Routhier, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story Not that long ago, the idea of taking a class to Read More
Steamrolling Forward: Multiple Maine Towns Take Steps to Reduce Plastic Pollution
You may not have noticed amid all the hubbub around national issues and politics, but some other pretty important votes took place in Maine on, or near, this past Election Day. Multiple towns took important steps to help create more sustainable communities through the elimination or reduction of plastic pollution. And that is good news! Read More
Girl Scouts, NRCM Team Up to Promote New Way to Safely Recycle Paint in Maine
Unveil new “Sustainable ME” Girl Scout Patch News Release Today, the Girl Scouts of Maine and the Natural Resources Council of Maine announced and unveiled a new program— the first ever “Sustainable Maine” patch—to be earned by Girl Scouts who take personal actions toward a more sustainable future. This year’s goal is for Girl Scouts Read More
Why Choose Composting?
Organic Materials Don’t Belong in Landfills: Sending our organic waste, like food and yard waste, to landfills or incinerators is unsustainable. We need to move beyond the idea that our waste simply goes “away” and instead look for smart, effective ways to close the loop on our consumption patterns. Composting is nature’s way of recycling Read More
Farm Leftovers to be Used to Feed 5,000 in Portland
On Oct. 7, a coalition of groups concerned about hunger will feed stew made from produce gleaned from local fields to thousands in Portland. By Meredith Goad, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story On Oct. 7, a coalition of groups concerned about hunger will feed stew made from left-behind produce to thousands in Portland. Read More
2 Maine Towns Ban Plastic Shopping Bags
By The Associated Press MPBN news story FREEPORT, Maine – Voters in two Maine towns say they are finished with single-use plastic shopping bags. Kennebunk and Freeport residents both voted to ban the bags. Kennebunk’s ban applies to all single-use plastic shopping bags, while the Freeport ban applies only to food and grocery stores. York Read More
Sample Pesticide Ban Ordinances
Ogunquit Ordinance Ogunquit – A Success Story: In November of 2014, 60% of Ogunquit of voters showed their support for the pesticide ban that the town would go on to enact later that year. Ogunquit is leading the way in the United States with their forward-thinking approach to harmful pesticides; they are only the second Read More
