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
waste reduction
September 28, 2019: ecomaine’s Annual Recycling Open House, Portland
The Natural Resources Council of Maine was pleased to again participate in ecomaine’s annual recycling Open House and e-waste collection event on Saturday, September 28 at their location at 62 Blueberry Road, Portland (just off Exit 46 of I-95 near the Portland International Jetport). The morning included: Tours of ecomaine’s facilities Free electronic waste (e-waste) 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
Municipal Composting Programs
Municipal composting programs for food waste are few and far between in Maine, but there are many around the country and beyond. In Maine, most municipalities provide composting of leaf and yard waste, but few offer food scrap composting. Some towns partner exclusively with one of Maine’s compost collection companies to offer a discount for Read More
Too Many Unknowns
The Ellsworth American editorial Communities in Hancock County and beyond — and the Municipal Review Committee that represents them — might want to give additional thought to their support for the Fiberight solid waste processing facility proposed for construction in Hampden. Eight members of the Maine Legislature’s Environmental and Natural Resources Committee — including the Read More
Midcoast Towns Struggle with Trash Tug-of-War
by Andy O’Brien Free Press news story In the coming weeks, Camden, Rockport, Hope and Lincolnville will hold special town meetings to decide where to send their 6,000 tons of annual household trash after March 31, 2018. That date marks the expiration of a lucrative electricity contract between the utility Emera Maine and the Penobscot Read More
“Think About It!” Freeport Interact Club Starts School-wide Recycling Program
On our final school visit, Gabby Grunkemeyer and I headed to Freeport Middle School’s “Interact Club” meeting to hear about their NRCM grant project designing and implementing a school-wide recycling system. As we entered the school, we were greeted by teacher and club leader Lucy Lloyd and a lively group of middle schoolers eager to Read More
Teaching the Next Generation the Value of Composting and Reducing Waste
When I first started teaching at South Portland High School in 2000, one of the teachers was unable to incorporate the school’s fledgling recycling program into her classroom and asked if I wanted to take up the task. I was immediately interested because I had worked to implement recycling programs when I attended Stonehill College 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
