AUGUSTA, Maine — A University of Maine study says Maine is falling short of its goal of recycling at least 50 percent of the trash going to state landfills.
A recent survey of 17 communities concluded that as much as 60 percent of what’s thrown in the trash could have been either recycled or composted.
Graduate student Travis Blackmer told Maine Public Broadcasting Network that a team picked through bags of trash to categorize what was being thrown away. The study concluded that about 40 percent was waste, 40 percent could have been composted and 20 percent could have been recycled.
The study, commissioned by the State Planning Office, aims to educate communities about the value of reducing waste by quantifying what’s being thrown away.
Until we get curbside recycling, this will continue. It does not make any sense for people to drive several miles to get rid of their recycling.
We need some congress people behind recycling to make folks aware of throwing out their recyclables. Could you imagine Gov. Lepage, owner of Mardens, being concerned with supplying folks with plastic junk that will just end up in the trash? Haha, ya, he’s concerned about trashing the planet.
Even with curbside recyling, not enough material is accepted. At my previous residences, ALL plastic bottles were accepted, not just no. 2 HDPE. Redemption has helped destroy braoderbased recycling.