Testimony in Support of LD 1660, An Act To Provide that Advanced Recycling Facilities are Subject to Solid Waste Regulation and that Advanced Recycling Does Not Constitute Recycling 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 Read More
waste management
LD 1431, An Act Requiring the PUC to Adopt Rules Promoting Renewable Energy
Testimony in Support of LD 1431, An Act Requiring the Public Utilities Commission to Adopt Rules Promoting Renewable Energy Senator Lawrence, Representative Zeigler, members of the Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee, my name is Jack Shapiro, and I am the Climate and Clean Energy Director at the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM). NRCM has Read More
Opposition to LD 399 and LD 437 Related to Waste-to-energy Renewable Energy Credits
Testimony in Opposition to LD 399, An Act to Amend the Portfolio Requirements for Class II Resources; and LD 437, An Act to Eliminate the Repeal Provision on Waste-to-energy Renewable Energy Credits Senator Lawrence, Representative Zeigler, and members of the Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology, my name is Sarah Nichols, and I 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
Support of LD 710, Resolve, To Require DEP to Study Establishment of Product Stewardship Program for Mattresses
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
RSU 16 Takes a Stand to Cut Food Waste and Costs
RSU 16, comprised of schools in Mechanic Falls, Minot and Poland, which recently made news for pushing back against a waste handling company trying to bill the schools for dumpster removal, is pushing ahead with their efforts to implement recycling and composting programs. RSU 16 schools are working to reduce waste and save money. As Read More
More Composting Resources
Maine Guide to Recovering and Composting Organics in Maine: An excellent resource from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection Maine’s Compost School Biocycle: A national composting and organics recycling information hub. UMaine 2011 Waste Characterization Study : Showing that around 43% of our household garbage bags contain organic material (and 27 percent of which is Read More
Controversial Hampden Waste Facility Gets Clearance
The Natural Resources Council says it is ‘dumbfounded’ by the state Department of Environmental Protection’s decision. by Madeline St. Amour, Morning Sentinel Portland Press Herald news story The Department of Environmental Protection has issued the final permits for a first-of-its-kind waste management plant in Hampden that would convert trash from more than 100 central Maine Read More
NRCM Dumbfounded at DEP Approval of MRC/Fiberight Waste Processing Facility
NRCM statement about Fiberight Application “We are extremely disappointed in Maine Department of Environmental Protection’s handling of the Fiberight application” said Sarah Lakeman, Sustainable Maine Project Director for NRCM. “There are powerful grounds for an appeal of these licenses.” NRCM, the Environment and Natural Resource Committee of the Legislature, engineers, attorneys, Maine citizens and others Read More