BANGOR DAILY NEWS • December 28, 2021
Americans throw away 25 percent more trash between Thanksgiving and New Year’s than during other times of the year. In Maine it’s an especially good time to think about waste and waste reduction, since Maine was the first state in the country to pass Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation, which holds producers accountable for the waste they generate. This legislation has the potential to significantly decrease the amount of waste generated in the state through product redesign, improved recycling, and more. we’re sharing two components we want to see included in the upcoming EPR rulemaking process. It’s so easy to forget about waste when it leaves our sight — it’s also easy to forget about our legislative wins after the bills pass. But this is when the hard work begins. ~ Brie Berry and R. Alan Berry