By Seth Koenig, BDN Staff Bangor Dailiy News news story PORTLAND, Maine — The Portland City Council voted late Monday night to implement a ban on polystyrene food containers, as well as tack a five-cent fee onto paper and plastic bags customers take from check-out lines. Both moves were panned by business groups, who lamented Read More
sustainability
Portland Passes a Bag Free and Styrofoam Ban
WCSH-6 news story PORTLAND, Maine (NEWS CENTER) — Portland has become the first community in Maine to impose a surcharge on disposable bags and one of the first in New England to regulate both bags and polystyrene coffee cups and food containers. Beginning in April of 2015, customers at grocery stores, convenience stores, and farmers Read More
Portland Council Adopts Fee for Bags, Bans Foam Containers
The 6-3 votes follow sharply divided testimony between supporters and opponents of the plan. By Kevin Miller, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story Portland city councilors voted late Monday night to charge consumers a nickel for every disposable shopping bag they get and to ban foam containers for food and beverages in an effort 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
Portland Council Taking Up 5-cent Bag Fee, Ban on Foam Containers
Supporters say the two proposals will help reduce trash in the city’s waterways, but opponents say the over-regulation could hurt businesses. By Kevin Miller, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story The Portland City Council on Monday will consider a pair of anti-litter proposals – including a 5-cent fee on disposable shopping bags – that Read More
Waterville’s Pay-as-you-throw Trash Plan Evokes Criticism, Praise
Detractors cite increased costs for individual residents, while proponents note then environmental benefits and municipal savings. By Rachel Ohm, Staff Writer Morning Sentinel news story WATERVILLE — With city officials looking to convert solid waste disposal to a pay-as-you-throw system, residents are divided over the pros and cons of such a scheme. Some say it 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
Environmentalists, Energy Firms Spar Over LePage’s Bill to Increase Timber Harvest
By Mario Moretto, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story AUGUSTA, Maine — Environmentalists and energy companies are lining up on opposite sides of a bill by Gov. Paul LePage to increase the state’s timber harvest and use the new revenue to pay for residential energy efficiency programs. The plan would slowly increase the public Read More
