“Methane pollution is over 80 times more dangerous than carbon dioxide in driving the climate crisis,” said Nora Bosworth, Zero Waste attorney at CLF. “The main culprit of this pollution is decomposing food scraps in landfills, and this bill offers a logical solution to this problem. It’s time for Maine to catch up with the rest of New England and embrace a better solution for our food waste.”
“This is exactly the type of calamity that community members feared,” said CLF attorney Nora Bosworth. “Casella has a responsibility to ensure the health and safety of the community in all of its operations. The company has failed in that duty.”
In most states, bottle return programs don’t cover wine bottles. So, our options for recycling them are limited. That means they end up mixed with trash or littering our communities. But there’s a simple solution: expand bottle bills.
Food waste in Connecticut is taking a toll in our communities and the environment. Learn how stronger food waste laws can help us reduce toxic emissions and fight food insecurity.
“Advanced recycling is nothing more than a flashy PR campaign from the plastic industry,” said Nora Bosworth, Zero Waste Attorney at CLF. “These facilities pollute communities and perpetuate environmental racism. This commonsense bill will ensure that any advanced recycling facility is subject to Maine state regulations, and Governor Mills should sign it into law.”
Rhode Island has a litter problem. Learn how passing a bottle bill can make a difference for our communities and the environment.
“Single-use containers are a scourge on our communities and choke our waters with litter,” said Nora Bosworth, Zero Waste Attorney at CLF. “Updated bottle and can redemption systems are a proven way to reduce plastic pollution and ensure that these materials are recycled into new products. Vermont has missed a serious opportunity to slash pollution and protect our environment today.”
How does your state stack up in this report card? Could your elected officials be doing more to cut litter and keep bottles out of landfills?
Uneaten food takes up valuable space in landfills and produces climate-damaging methane when left to rot.
“Massachusetts beaches and waterways are choking with trash,” said CLF attorney Mara Shulman. “Across the state, volunteers are spending countless hours picking up litter. This is unsustainable. Updating the Bottle Bill will not only slash litter, but it will also reduce the state’s greenhouse gas emissions. It’s time for legislators to meet this moment and stop relying on volunteers to clean up litter when a legislative solution is at our fingertips.”
