While alliteration in blog titles is great, there is something even better, and that is when we learn about the next generation of Mainers recognizing a major problem in our environment, foam containers, and stepping up to solve it right in their own community. That principal is certainly on display in York where an intrepid Read More
sustainability
Portland, Pesticides, and the Power of the People
With all the hoopla surrounding the ringing in of the New Year, you might have missed the news about a pretty big deal in Portland, Maine’s most populace city. On Wednesday, January 3, the City Council voted unanimously to prohibit the use of synthetic pesticides in Portland. This is, as City Councilor Spencer Thibodeau said, Read More
Rockland to Consider Ban on Plastic Bags, Styrofoam Containers
By Stephen Betts Village Soup news story ROCKLAND — The Rockland City Council will consider this month an ordinance to ban the use of single-use plastic bags and Styrofoam containers. In addition, the proposed law would impose an increasing fee on paper bags in an effort to encourage shoppers to use reusable shopping bags. Councilor Read More
Maine Should Leave the Bottle Bill Alone
Bangor Daily News editorial Maine’s bottle redemption program turns 40 this year, marking four decades of rewarding responsible consumers with small, 5- or 15-cent refunds when they redeem the beverage containers they’ve accrued over time. It is one of the most comprehensive and successful of such programs in the country. Maine consumers recycle more beverage Read More
South Portland Food Waste Pilot Program Increases Recycling
By Juliette Laaka The Forecaster news story SOUTH PORTLAND — Since its inception last May, a pilot program to collect food waste has increased recycling rates in two participating neighborhoods. About 600 households in the Knightville and Meetinghouse Hill neighborhoods received 6-gallon buckets to use for curbside compost collection. Additional bins were set up at Read More
Some Legislators Want to Help Road Slobs
By George Smith Bangor Daily News blog If you read this column often, you know how much I dislike road slobs, who toss their garbage out their vehicle windows onto my woodlot. I walk the road from my house to my woodlot every couple of weeks and fill one bag with garbage and another with returnable Read More
Adult Ed, Recycling Tours: How to School Yourself in Sustainability
Mainers can take a class in Lewiston about electric cars, check out the ecomaine facility, or get a helping hand from the Natural Resources Council of Maine – just to name a few resources. By Ray Routhier, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story Not that long ago, the idea of taking a class to Read More
Carnivore Coexistence (Leopold’s Wise Words – Part 1)
“Only the mountain has lived long enough to listen objectively to the howl of a wolf.” — Aldo Leopold “Thinking Like a Mountain” Last week I had the pleasure of participating in a group presentation and discussion on Nurturing Carnivore Coexistence and Biodiversity on Your Farm, at the Maine Agricultural Trades Show. I was invited Read More
Bill to Lower Liquor Bottle Deposits Considered
by Mal Leary Maine Public news story Grocers and others in the food and beverage industry are supporting a proposal to reduce the deposit rate on liquor bottles in Maine from 15 cents to five. This change would match the nickel deposit implemented last year on small containers of liquor commonly called “nips.” Supporters of Read More
