Dear John,

Large corporations like Amazon and Walmart produce immense amounts of packaging, much of which is not technically or economically recyclable. Dealing with this ever-growing flood of waste costs Maine taxpayers millions of dollars each year, and has forced several Maine communities to significantly scale-back or even end their recycling programs in recent years. We need change.

LD 1541 — a bill to support and improve municipal recycling programs and save taxpayer money — is set to be voted on in the full legislature soon. Strong industry forces are attempting to thwart this bill and the important precedent it would set for putting the wellbeing of Maine communities before the interests of international corporations.

Product packaging makes up 30-40% of the materials managed by Maine’s municipal waste programs. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for Packaging would make manufacturers—not Maine taxpayers—responsible for the costs of dealing with these materials. Where EPR for Packaging has been implemented, producers have responded by reducing overall packaging and shifting to packaging that is more easily recyclable.

This will help improve and revive recycling programs in Maine communities. That’s why towns representing over 325,000 Mainers have passed resolutions in support of EPR for Packaging.

It’s time for the state to act on this issue, too. Click here to send a message to your legislator and ask them to save taxpayer money and improve recycling by supporting LD 1541.

Thank you for taking action,

Abbie

P.S. This bill is a priority of Maine’s Environmental Priorities Coalition; to learn more, you can read the coalition’s fact sheet here and watch our Lunch & Learn on this topic here.