My dad, Clarence E. Gray, lived in Maine from the time he was a teenager and had to drop out of school and go to work in the Westbrook paper mill to help support his family. Later he was drafted into WWII, and before shipping out, worked in the shipyard in South Portland. He had Read More
sustainability
Other Pay-As-You-Throw Resources
PowerPoint presentation by the Natural Resources Council of Maine Payasyouthrow.org: A great national resource on PAYT WasteZero: This company helps towns reduce waste through trash metering and it also manufactures PAYT bags. “Cutting Trash in Half in Maine”: An article on PAYT from The Maine Townsman
Why Support Pay As You Throw
It makes sense. We produce too much trash in Maine. Not only should communities provide a convenient way for people to reduce, reuse, recycle and compost, but they should also create an incentive for people to do so by charging a fee for each bag of household trash. Charging a fee for each bag of Read More
Brunswick Bans Foam Food Packaging Starting Oct. 1
By Walter Wuthmann The Forecaster news story BRUNSWICK — The Town Council on Monday unanimously approved a ban on polystyrene foam packaging, making Brunswick the fourth community in the region to prohibit most food retailers from using the material. The vote reflected a public hearing and process virtually devoid of opposition. “The expression in support Read More
Brunswick Joins List of Towns that Ban Styrofoam Packaging
By Beth Brogan, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story BRUNSWICK, Maine — The Brunswick Town Council voted unanimously Monday evening to ban polystyrene foam, or Styrofoam, food containers beginning in October. The vote followed a public hearing before a standing-room-only crowd at which 16 people spoke, all but one in support of the ban, Read More
Women Fighting on Environmental Front Lines
Berta Caceres led the battle against a huge hydroelectric dam in Honduras until she was gunned down this month. by Jesse McMahon and Jennifer Curtis, members of the NRCM Rising Leadership Team Portland Press Herald op-ed To mark Woman’s History Month, we honor women around the world who are fighting for climate action, for clean air to Read More
Teaching and Living Sustainability in Falmouth Elementary Schools
I am a first grade teacher in the largest K-5 elementary school in the state, Falmouth Elementary School. I have brought many sustainability efforts to the children and adults at the school. This endeavor began more than 10 years ago with the introduction by ecomaine of single-stream recycling in Falmouth. Once the program was available in Read More
Maine Farmers’ Markets: Not Just a Summer Thing!
Let’s be honest: The easiest time to fall in love with Maine farmers’ markets is amidst the luscious towers of tomatoes and melons in August, not the coolers of meats and crates of root vegetables in January. You might not have even realized that there IS a farmers’ market near you in January! But every Read More
Bag Free, Plastic Foam Ban Take Effect Tuesday in South Portland
The City Council approved the ordinances unanimously last September. By Kelley Bouchard, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story SOUTH PORTLAND — Two new ordinances take effect Tuesday, imposing a ban on plastic foam food containers and a 5-cent fee on all single-use paper or plastic shopping bags. The City Council approved the ordinances unanimously Read More
