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 testify in support of LD 524. NRCM is dedicated to advancing policies and Read More
food waste
Making a Difference for Maine’s Environment in the Classroom and Cafeteria
Mainers can be proud of their schools for a variety of reasons. Every time I visit a new school I am impressed by the innovative ways they are preparing students for the future. Making changes in the way the students relate to food is no exception. This fall I was particularly impressed by the School Read More
Maine Environment Fall 2018 Newsletter
Maine Environment Fall 2018: What’s Inside! In this issue of Maine Environment, we feature an important story by NRCM Climate and Clean Energy Project Director Dylan Voorhees about Central Maine Power’s proposed 145-mile transmission line through Maine, to bring power from Canada to Massachusetts. He explains NRCM’s work and our reasons for opposing this project, Read More
Maine Schools that Divert Food Waste
The number of Maine schools that are diverting food waste is growing! Some schools have signed up for a composting service, while others compost their food waste on site. Other schools send their food waste to an anaerobic digester or partner with local pig farmers. If you don’t see your school on the list we Read More
Why Develop School Food Waste Reduction Programs?
Maine K-12 schools generate an estimated seven million pounds of food waste annually (1). That is a staggering amount for our small state, and it reflects the larger, global food waste problem. At home, almost one-third of the garbage Mainers throw out is food waste and scraps. Meanwhile, one in five Maine kids may not Read More
Maine School Cafeterias Reducing Plastic Pollution and Waste
We are all familiar with the challenges of using plastic cutlery. These utensils notoriously fail at the only task they are made for: cutting and picking up food. In addition, they create a lot of single-use trash, are not recyclable, and there are reusable options. In recent years, schools have brought plastic cutlery into lunchrooms. Read More
Lessons in Food Waste at Hall-Dale Middle School
In June, we were fortunate to be visited by members of the NRCM staff including Beth Comeau, Lisa Pohlmann, and Lily Bailey, the intern who was assigned to work with and support the Hall-Dale Middle School Environmental Club. The NRCM staff members were very enthusiastic as they asked the students to reflect on our food Read More
Hall-Dale Continues Composting Challenge
Environmental Club members have continued to work toward consistent cafeteria composting at Hall-Dale Middle School, but not without encountering challenges along the way. Our original farmer had a very busy schedule—between taking care of his animals and picking up food waste from others around town, he could not always get to us in a timely Read More
Hall-Dale Middle School Students Start Composting Program
The program is made possible through a grant from the Natural Resources Council of Maine. Through a grant from the Natural Resources Council of Maine, Hall-Dale Middle School students are starting a composting program in their school cafeteria to reduce food waste, according to a news release from the council. Middle school students in the Read More
