In a rare alignment, manufacturers and environmentalists join to help the measure sail easily through committee. By Kevin Miller, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story A bill that would ban soaps, shampoos and other consumer products containing tiny plastic “microbeads” in Maine sailed through a legislative committee Wednesday after manufacturers and environmentalists made a Read More
Plastic Pollution
NRCM is working hard to bring plastic pollution solutions to Maine. Together, we can reduce Maine’s impact on this catastrophic global problem and provide inspiration for others around the world.
Plastic pollution in Maine is a more devastating problem than you may think. Plastic is present throughout the environment everywhere on earth. Maine is no exception. Plastic is polluting our waterways, coastlines, forests, and open spaces, choking wildlife, and making its way into the food web.
The sources of plastic pollution in Maine are unnervingly diverse, and the flow of plastic into the environment is showing no signs of slowing down. In fact, it is increasing. The amount of plastic litter we can see is astounding, but even more worrisome is the staggering amount of plastic pollution we cannot see—so-called microplastic. A growing body of evidence is revealing plastic pollution’s devastating impact on our health and the environment.
Reusable Bag Ordinance
Single-use disposable shopping bags are one of the most commonly used and quickly discarded items in our communities. When stores routinely hand out an unlimited number of single-use disposable bags, we end up creating a lot of unnecessary waste. Simply reminding people that it’s a good idea to shop with reusable bags isn’t enough to Read More
Comments in Support of the Expanded Polystyrene Foam Ban Ordinance and the Ordinance to Institute Fees on Single-Use Disposable Bags
Good evening Mayor Brennan and members of the Council. My name is Sarah Lakeman, I am the Sustainable Maine Policy Advocate for the Natural Resources Council of Maine. I am speaking as a Portland resident and on behalf of NRCM’s more than 16,000 members and supporters, of which more than 1,100 live in Portland. I Read More
Foam Ban, Bag Fees Going Back to Portland City Council
by David Harry The Forecaster news story PORTLAND — Proposals to ban polystyrene foam containers and cups, and to place a fee on paper and plastic shopping bags, will return to the full City Council for first readings on Monday, June 2. The amendments to Chapter 12 of the city code were last considered in September Read More
Five Cents for a Disposable Bag? No Thanks, I’ve Brought My Own!
We all want to see fewer plastic bags dangling in our trees, flapping on our fences, polluting our oceans, and clogging up our storm drains—it’s how to solve this problem that’s cause for debate. Some people suggest that we should ban plastic bags altogether, that way there won’t be any to be littered. Others say Read More
Portland Panel Lowers Plastic Bag Fee to 5 Cents, Sends It to City Council
The new plan would also allow retailers to keep the nickel they charge for each disposable plastic or paper bag. By Kevin Miller, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story Members of Portland’s Transportation, Sustainability and Energy Committee voted 3-1 to endorse an anti-litter proposal that would require retailers to collect 5 cents for every Read More
NRCM Comments in Support of Instituting a Fee on Single-Use Disposable Bags
Comments at Portland City Council meeting My name is Sarah Lakeman, I am the Sustainable Maine Policy Advocate and Outreach Coordinator for the Natural Resources Council of Maine. I am speaking as a Portland resident and on behalf of NRCM’s more than 16,000 members and supporters, of which more than 1,100 are residents of Portland. I Read More
NRCM Comments in Support of a Ban on Single-Use Disposable Expanded Polystyrene Foam Containers Used in Food and Restaurant Service
Comments at Portland City Council meeting My name is Sarah Lakeman. I am the Sustainable Maine Policy Advocate and Outreach Coordinator for the Natural Resources Council of Maine and a Portland resident. I appreciate the opportunity to present comments in support of a citywide ban on the use of Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) in single-use disposable products Read More
Got Your Bags, Maine?
NRCM Statement at the Kickoff Press Conference for “Got Your Bags, Maine?” by Matt Prindiville, NRCM Clean Production Project Director “Mainers use and dispose of more than 700 million shopping bags a year. That’s more than two million bags thrown away every single day. These bags end up in landfills, on our streets as litter, Read More
