Recycling & compost

Nearly all of America’s trash could be composted and recycled. But we’ve got a lot of work to do to get there.

Most of us put our recyclables out for collection. But it’s going to take more than individual action to deal with our trash problem. Only 24% of our trash actually gets recycled, and only 9% gets composted. We can do better. Together we can share information, resources and push our leaders to build a better recycling and composting system. 

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Maine governor signs groundbreaking waste reduction bill into law

Beyond plastic

Maine governor signs groundbreaking waste reduction bill into law

Gov. Janet Mills signed LD 1541, which holds producers responsible for their packaging waste, into law on Tuesday. The new law will establish a program called Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for Packaging, which will require big corporations to shoulder a large percentage of the costs of recycling and waste disposal programs in the state.

Media Statements  

Environment Maine supports Producer Responsibility legislation

Beyond plastic

Environment Maine supports Producer Responsibility legislation

On May 10, 2021, Environment Maine's State Director Anya Fetcher testified before the Environment and Natural Resources Committee in support of LD 1541, a proposed bill to hold producers of plastic packaging fiscally responsible for the recycling and landfilling of their products.

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