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.
Chemical Industry Drafted Bill to Modify Maine’s Kids Safe Act
by Susan Sharon MPBN radio news story The sponsor of a bill that environmentalists say would dramatically weaken Maine’s Kid Safe Products Act acknowledged today that the chemical industry drafted the language. Republican Rep. Jim Hamper says the proposed reforms are necessary to improve the act, which he thinks is overly broad and creates uncertainty Read More
NRCM Responds to Gov. LePage’s “Callous Disregard for the Health of Women and Children”
NRCM news release Governor LePage’s comment about his opposition to the ban on the toxic chemical BPA (Bisphenol-A): “The only thing that I’ve heard is if you take a plastic bottle and put it in the microwave and you heat it up, it gives off a chemical similar to estrogen. So the worst case is Read More
Maine Governor’s Bisphenol-A Remark Draws Rebukes
by Susan Sharon MPBN radio news story Recent remarks by Gov. Paul LePage about what he perceives as a lack of science surrounding the chemical bisphenol A and its role as a hormone disruptor is once again making headlines around the country and generating a strong and critical response from environmental and health policy groups. Read More
The Joys of a Maine Winter!
These cold January days have not deterred me from enjoying Maine’s outdoors. Those of us who love to fish in Maine can’t stay idle waiting for spring to wet our fly lines. Instead, we bundle up and explore Maine’s lakes and rivers—through the ice. Last weekend, I finally got a chance to get out on Read More
Maine BEP Adopts Toxic BPA Rule
Board of Environmental Protection Votes to Replace BPA in Baby Bottles and Sippy Cups NRCM Statement Today, the Maine Board of Environmental Protection (BEP) took a significant step forward to protect Maine families from the toxic chemical bisphenol-A (BPA). Today BEP voted to 1) designate BPA as a priority toxic chemical; 2) restrict its use Read More
Maine’s Young Men Speak Out Against Toxic Chemicals
Lawmakers Urged to Act on Concerns over Testicular Cancer, Lower Sperm Counts, and Altered Genital Development NRCM/Alliance for a Clean and Healthy Maine (PORTLAND) There is a growing awareness of the effects of toxic chemicals on Maine’s young men, especially those who want to start a family some day. But talking about testicular cancer and Read More
First-in-the-Nation Product Stewardship Bill Signed Into Law
Bill Evolves from Controversy to “Win-Win” for Business and the Environment Natural Resources Council of Maine * Maine State Chamber of Commerce AUGUSTA – Today, Governor Baldacci signed LD 1631, “An Act to Provide for the Responsible Recycling of Consumer Products,” sponsored by Rep. Melissa Walsh Innes of Yarmouth. The new law, passed with overwhelming Read More
NRCM Testimony In Support of LD 1568, An Act to Clarify Maine’s Phase-out of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers
by Matt Prindiville, NRCM Toxics Project Director Senator Goodall, Representative Duchesne and members of the Natural Resources Committee. My name is Matt Prindiville. I am the Clean Production Project Director for the Natural Resources Council of Maine. NRCM strongly supports LD 1568, and we thank Representative Pingree for bringing this issue to the attention of Read More
Maine Board of Environmental Protection Hears from Moms, Doctors, Scientists, and Activists
Large Crowd Speaks Out Against Toxic Chemicals in Consumer Products NRCM and its partners in the Alliance for a Clean and Healthy Maine (AUGUSTA) The latest stop on the train carrying Maine’s Kid-Safe Products Law to full implementation was the Board of Environmental Protection (BEP) – a group that seldom sees large crowds at its Read More
