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Waste Management
& Recycling Program
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2008 Municipal Solid Waste Reporting Forms

2009 Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event Schedule

Please contact your Town Office for further details. Note: highlighted events have not been confirmed. See Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event Schedule (11KB)

coasterMaine Recycles Campaign – Recycling Works!

Next time you are enjoying yourself at a favorite restaurant or bar, take a peek underneath your glass.  You may find a colorful coaster encouraging you to recycle! Thanks to a partnership of the Maine Beer and Wine Wholesalers Association, the Maine State Planning Office, and the Maine Recycles Campaign, recycling “coasters and posters” are appearing in local restaurants and bars.  It’s another way to remind us that “Recycling works!”  The coasters explain that “Every day we use things made from recycled materials.”  And one quick example is the coaster itself - -  like its matching poster, it’s made from recycled paper and can be reused, and recycled when no longer useful. 

Members of the Maine Beer and Wine Wholesalers Association (MBWWA) volunteered to help get the recycling message out. Cheryl Timberlake, Executive Director of the MBWWA said, “The beverage containers we distribute are easy to recycle. Metals and glass are valuable materials that can be readily recycled into new products, helping us to save energy and natural resources.”  As one of 11 “bottle bill” states, Maine boasts a model beverage container redemption program. According to representatives of the beverage industry, Maine’s redemption rate for beverage containers exceeds 90%.

Mainers do a good job of recycling, averaging a state recycling rate of 35%, but we need to do better to reach the state’s 50% recycling goal.  Perhaps with friendly coasters and posters and special help from the MBWWA, it will be easier to remember that recycling works, and is one of the simplest ways you can reduce your carbon footprint and help our environment.  For more information about the Maine Recycles coasters and posters, contact Jetta Antonakos by email: jetta.antonakos@maine.gov or phone, 287-9074.
To learn more about recycling in Maine, visit www.mainerecycles.com


Safe Option for Disposal of Unused and Expired Medicine
The Safe Medicine Disposal for ME program provides Maine's residents with a safe disposal option for unused and unwanted medicine. Free medicine mail back envelopes are available at participating sites. This program is funded through a grant from the United States Environmental Protection Agency's Aging Initiative.  For information please visit: http://www.safemeddisposal.com/ .

 

Safe Medicine Disposal for ME Program
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Report on Options to Increase Recycling of Plastics completed. 
During the 123rd Legislative session, the Natural Resources Committee discussed having SPO conduct a review of the costs and benefits of state and local government options to stimulate an increase in the recycling of plastics, and report the findings and recommendations to the Committee in the next session.  The types of plastics to be studied include plastic bottles and rigid containers, numbered 1 through 7.  Through a letter from the Committee, SPO was requested to undertake the study, which is now completed. 

Even though the majority of Maine’s communities’ recycle some plastic containers, primarily the # 1’s (PET) and # 2’s (HDPE), there are frequent questions about the possibility of recycling other types of containers, as well as increasing the collection and recycling of the currently accepted containers.  This report examines both current and possible recycling of plastics, and includes basic information on the various resins, community recycling programs, and specifications related to the processing and recycling of plastics. Learn more by reading, The Costs and Benefits of State and Local Options to Stimulate an Increase in the Recycling of Plastics and it's Appendices.

 

The Maine Resource Recovery Association is again offering compost bins, kitchen collection ‘pails’, hand compost  turners and rain barrels for sale, in bulk quantities, at reduced prices.  For more information on participating in this opportunity, visit http://www.mrra.net

 

Maine Recycles Week 2008 Has Left Its Impression

Cal. PicOur congratulations and sincere thanks to each school, teacher, and student that took part in this year’s Maine Recycles Week activities!  We want to thank all who participated, whether in school competitions or in the poster contest or perhaps in some personal action.The MRW Steering Committee enthusiastically reviewed all entries for the school competition and selected the following:

Outstanding schools that received $500 each - - those funds are asked to be used for science or environmental activities or for recycling in the school:

 

Fruit Street School – Bangor
Bowdoinham Community School – Bowdoinham
Lincoln Middle School – Portland.

To celebrate the 10th Year of Maine Recycles Week, The MRW Steering Committee drew at random from the remaining competing schools another seven (for a total of 10, to recognize the 10th year of MRW) to be awarded $250 each.  These schools were:

            Trinity Catholic School – Lewiston
            St. George School – St. George
            Easton Elementary School – Easton
            Saccarappa School – Westbrook
            Belgrade Community School – Belgrade
            Livermore Falls High School – Livermore Falls
            South Bristol Elementary – South Bristol

The traditional Maine Recycles Week Poster contest was equally a challenge, with nearly 1900 entries to review; however, the MRW Steering Committee came through again in their review!  Listed below are those students with their art included in the 2009 Maine Recycles calendar.  As we have always done, we use only first names for students.  When the calendar is printed later in December, copies will be available through this website.

            Cover - Mike, Livermore Falls High School, Gr. 10,     Livermore Falls
            January - Hunter, Readfield Elementary School, Gr. 3, Readfield
            February - Arielle, Fisher-Middle School, Gr. 4, Bath
            March - Spencer, Friendship Village School, Gr. 6, Friendship
            April - Dominic, Lincoln Middle School, Gr. 6, Portland
            May - Duncan, Herman High School, Gr. 12, Herman
            June - Tessa, Stepping Stones Montessori School, Gr. 5 Chelsea
            July - Chloe, Cheverus High School, Gr.10, Portland
            August - Rylie, Lincoln Middle School, Gr. 6, Portland
            September - Hannah, Rangeley Lakes Regional School, Gr. 10, Rangeley
            October - Alex, The Hyde School, Gr. 11, Bath
            November - Tryn, Rangeley Lakes Regional School, Gr. 12, Rangeley
            December - Natalie, Lincoln Middle School, Gr. 6, Portland

Congratulations to one and all!

 

Check out the new interactive ‘Maine Recycles’ website and TV ads!Click here for the Maine Recycles website!

 

You can post your own recycling pictures, take a survey and find out just how trashy you are, andlearn about where your recyclables go and what theybecome. See it all at www.MaineRecycles.com
Click Here to check out our TV Spots

 

 

2007 Solid Waste Generation and Disposal Capacity Report

 

This annual report provides details and perspectives on the volume and types of municipal solid waste that were generated in Maine during 2007 and how those wastes were managed. 2007 Report. Contact George MacDonald at 287-5759 or george.macdonald@maine.gov

 

Compact Fluorescent Recycling Program

CFL Program Logo

Efficiency Maine, a program through the Maine Public Utilities Commission, just launched a statewide CFL bulb recycling program. You can now bring your used (unbroken) CFL bulbs to any participating store for free recycling. Note: CFL bulbs must be recycled and cannot be disposed of in the trash because they contain small amounts of mercury. Or you can contact your local transfer station or municipal office to see if they accept these bulbs for recycling.  An Excel spreadsheet (sheet 3) that lists the public facilities is available on the Department of Environmental Protection's website.

 

Signs are Now Available to Communities

SignAs a way to educate the public the State Planning Office has signs available at no cost for Maine transfer stations and disposal facilities. Each aluminum sign is 24"x30" and lists common items that are banned from disposal in Maine. Signs will not be mailed out but can be picked up at our Augusta office by contacting us to arrange pick-up.