Maine’s clean and healthy environment strengthens the state’s economy and is central to our way of life. Holding polluting corporations accountable through systemic changes in local, state, and federal policies is the key to creating a more healthy, prosperous, sustainable future for us all.
NRCM’s Sustainable Maine program takes a practical, collaborative approach to solving environmental problems faced by Maine people and communities, particularly with how to better prevent and manage waste. We want to make doing the right thing for people and the environment the easy, clear choice for individuals and businesses.
Our vision of sustainability in Maine is ensuring a healthy future for life on Earth. Unfortunately, polluting corporations continue to ignore what is right for the environment at the expense of people’s health. Instead, they spend big money to try to convince people that it’s an individual’s responsibility to act, not theirs. But we are onto them.
The fossil fuel industry knows our clean energy transition is underway, so to keep their profits flowing, they are ramping up production of single-use plastics. We cannot allow this to happen. At every stage of the life cycle for plastics — from production to disposal — there are significant human health impacts, and they disproportionately affect economically and socially disadvantaged people.
Many of us feel guilty that we still rely on gasoline-powered cars, and we can’t seem to avoid wasteful packaging despite our best efforts—but it’s not our fault as individuals. In the State House, in schools, and in our communities, NRCM works with local businesses, municipalities, and Maine people to galvanize support for solutions that require corporations be a part of solving the problem and make it easier to reduce waste and pollution.
Learn more about our Sustainable Maine program priorities and how you can help on the pages below.
Legislation to Modernize Maine’s Bottle Bill Passes Unanimously Out of Committee
A bipartisan bill to modernize Maine’s popular beverage container redemption program was passed unanimously by the Environment and Natural Resources Committee yesterday. The vote came on the same day the Bottle Bill celebrated its 45th anniversary as the state’s most effective litter prevention and recycling program. “Maine’s Bottle Bill is a big part of our Read More
LD 1645, An Act To Reduce Plastic Packaging Waste
Testimony Neither for Nor Against LD 1645, An Act To Reduce Plastic Packaging Waste Sarah Nichols, Sustainable Maine Director 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 for the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM). I Read More
LD 1909, Modernize Maine’s Beverage Container Redemption Law
Testimony in Support of LD 1909, An Act to Modernize Maine’s Beverage Container Redemption Law, and and In Opposition to LD 1910, An Act to Amend the Returnable Beverage Container Program 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 Read More
LD 1660 An Act To Provide that Advanced Recycling Facilities are Subject to Solid Waste Regulation and That Advanced Recycling Does Not Constitute Recycling
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
LD 1814, Reduce Mercury by Phasing Out Certain Fluorescent Light Bulbs
Testimony in Support of LD 1814, An Act To Reduce Mercury in the Environment by Phasing out Certain Fluorescent Light Bulbs 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 for the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM). Read More
LD 718, An Act To Increase the Beneficial Reuse of Construction and Demolition Debris
Testimony in Opposition to LD 718, An Act To Increase the Beneficial Reuse of Construction and Demolition Debris 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 for the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM). I Read More
Emergency Bill to Rescue Local Redemption Centers Passes
An emergency bill that would provide immediate financial relief to struggling redemption centers has been approved by the Maine Legislature and is heading to Governor Mills’ desk. Redemption center owners and environmental groups were urging lawmakers to quickly pass LD 134 with the two-thirds vote necessary for it to be implemented right away. They Read More
LD 1418, An Act Concerning Single-use Disposable Water Bottles and Water Refill Stations
Testimony in Support of LD 1418, An Act Concerning Single-use Disposable Water Bottles and Water Refill Stations 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 for the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM). I am here Read More
LD 1171, Raise Funding to Support Waste Reduction, Reuse, Recycling, and Composting
Testimony Neither for Nor Against LD 1171, An Act to Raise Funding to Support Waste Reduction, Reuse, Recycling and Composting in Maine 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 for the Natural Resources Council of Maine Read More
