PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • May 10, 2021
Two bills have been submitted to create a program to improve recycling and refund municipalities, but the sides are far apart on how those goals should be achieved. L.D. 1541 would empower the DEP to contract with an organization to run the program and require companies to reimburse communities for the cost of disposing of materials that are not easily recyclable. L.D. 1471 would allow product makers to establish an independent, state-approved stewardship organization to manage payments to local governments and invest in new recycling infrastructure. Big manufacturers support that approach. Supporters allege the industry’s proposal lacks the kind of regulation and enforcement a program needs and is an attempt to distract and complicate the issue for lawmakers.