The new report by the State Planning Office shows that recycling efforts have stalled across Maine in the past two years, with 40 percent of all solid waste recycled in 1999, down from 42 percent in 1997. Maine remains among the top states for recycling but it missed its goal of recycling 50 percent of municipal solid waste by 2000. For now, the state has ample landfill space for the next 20 years as long as recycling continues and existing landfills stay open. But the state wants to boost recycling efforts to save money on costly new landfills in the future. Twenty years in the future seems like a long time away, but if we had to site a landfill it would take seven to 10 years to get approvals to begin operation.'' Solid waste generation continues to increase in Maine, from 1.6 million tons in 1997 to 1.7 tons in 1999.
Some towns are have tougher regulations surrounding recycling.
Consequently, Oxford's recycling rate was nearly 80 percent in 1999. Live coverage resumes Thursday. Check the Snow Report for a daily update on ski conditions in Maine and New Hampshire. Sponsored by Gray Webster Aviation , Adecco Employment and Adecco Technical .