By Bill Trotter, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story Southwest Harbor is the latest town in Maine to adopt a ban on the distribution of single-use plastic bags by local retailers. The Mount Desert Island town held a special town meeting on Tuesday, a week after the statewide midterm elections, to consider whether to Read More
sustainability
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
Waterville Approves Plastic Bag Ban by Fewer than 150 Votes
The City Council had overriden Mayor Nick Isgro’s veto of its vote to let voters decide whether to ban plastic bags, a proposal initiated by the Sustain Mid-Maine Coalition. by Amy Calder, Staff Writer Central Maine Newspapers news story WATERVILLE — Voters on Tuesday approved a proposal to prohibit larger retail and commercial businesses from dispensing Read More
York Starts Down Path Toward Possible Polystyrene Ban
By Deborah McDermott, The York Weekly Bangor Daily News news story YORK, Maine — On the third year anniversary of passage of the town’s plastic ban ordinance, the York Board of Selectmen Monday night unanimously agreed to begin the process that could end in the ban of yet another type of plastic from use in Read More
Natural Resources Council of Maine Supports Bag and Polystyrene Bans
Camden Herald op-ed For decades, the Natural Resources Council of Maine has been working with communities and lawmakers to reduce plastic waste and pollution in our environment. Nov. 6, Camden voters will consider two town ordinances we wholeheartedly support: one would ban single-use plastic bags (placing a 10-cent fee on single-use paper bags at year-round Read More
As Demand for Recycled Material Shrinks, Consumers Can Take Action
Steps include reducing waste, learning what is accepted locally and redeeming beverage containers. by Sarah Lakeman, Special to the Press Herald Portland Press Herald op-ed AUGUSTA — Global recycling markets are changing, and cities and towns across Maine are responding – some by abandoning their recycling programs. This is a big wake-up call that will Read More
Two Maine Mayors Urge Congress to Reject Effort to Undo Local Pesticides Restrictions
The Portland and South Portland officials write that the provision in a House farm bill tramples on their right to protect their cities. by Randy Billings, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story The mayors of Portland and South Portland are urging Congress to reject a provision in a wide-ranging farm bill that would nullify Read More
Waterville Council to Consider Overriding Mayor’s Veto on Plastic Bag Referendum
by Amy Calder, Staff Writer Central Maine Newspapers news story WATERVILLE — At least three out of six city councilors say they will vote Tuesday to override Mayor Nick Isgro’s veto of a vote the council took earlier this month to place on the November ballot a request to enact a plastic bag ordinance that Read More
Plastic Waste is Everywhere. Here are Some Ideas for Mainers to Reduce Their Use of It.
By Abigail Curtis, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story Shlomit Auciello of Rockland hasn’t bought plastic wrap, or new Tupperware-style plastic containers, in decades. She avoids using microfiber fleece and washes plastic bags to reuse them again and again. She knows that makes her a bit quirky by modern American standards, but she hopes Read More
