Resolve, To Study Initiatives To Increase Recycling in Maine
Maine Legislature, Session 125, LD 1255
Committee: Environment and Natural Resources
Sponsors: HASTINGS, INNES, MARTIN, HUNT

Legislative Document 
No. 1255 
S.P. 376 
In Senate, March 22, 2011 
Resolve, To Study Initiatives To Increase Recycling in Maine 
(EMERGENCY) 
Reference to the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources suggested and ordered 
printed. 
JOSEPH G. CARLETON, JR. 
Secretary of the Senate 
Presented by Senator HASTINGS of Oxford. 
Cosponsored by Representative INNES of Yarmouth and 
Senator: MARTIN of Kennebec, Representative: HUNT of Buxton. 
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, recycling conserves valuable natural resources, energy, landfill capacity 
and landfill disposal costs, prevents greenhouse gas emissions and litter, creates jobs and 
promotes a conservation ethic; and 
Whereas, in 1989 the Legislature established a goal to achieve a recycling rate of 
50%; and 
Whereas, recycling rates in Maine have leveled off at approximately 38% and have 
remained at that level for many years; and 
Whereas, Maine's laws regarding returnable beverage containers have resulted in 
the development of parallel recycling systems, one for beverage containers and another 
for other recyclable packaging and printed materials; and 
Whereas, Maine's laws regarding returnable beverage containers address less than 
4% of the State's solid waste stream; and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore, be it 
Sec. 1.  Stakeholder group.  Resolved:  That the Executive Department, State 
Planning Office shall convene a stakeholder group to analyze the beverage container 
recycling program in the State in the context of overall recycling rates.  The department 
shall invite the participation of the Maine Beer and Wine Distributors Association, the 
Maine Beverage Association, the Natural Resources Council of Maine, the Maine 
Audubon Society, the Maine Municipal Association, a nonprofit waste management 
company, a for-profit waste management company and a licensed redemption center; and 
be it further 
Sec. 2.  Issues to review.  Resolved:  That the stakeholder group convened under 
section 1 shall review and analyze: 
1.  The programs for recovering municipal solid waste in Maine.  The description and 
analysis must focus on those recovery systems funded by consumers and taxpayers, 
including municipal recovery infrastructure, such as curbside and drop-off programs, and 
the deposit and refund system for selected beverage containers. 
A.  The descriptions must estimate the scope of coverage of these programs, focusing 
on the number of individuals and households served by various types of programs, 
such as single-stream and dual-stream curbside recycling, and the types and amount 
of solid waste targeted by and recovered through these programs. 
B.  The analysis must include the costs and benefits of municipal solid waste 
recovery systems. Costs must include both operating costs of the system and costs to 
participants.  Benefits must include the amount of solid waste diverted from disposal 
and the associated economic and environmental gains; 
2.  The opportunities for and barriers to improving recycling rates in this State.  In 
assessing opportunities, the group shall evaluate trends in municipal solid waste recovery 
systems in the United States and other developed markets to identify trends in program 
delivery and funding.  The group shall identify costs and benefits of implementing 
changes, including increased recovery rates, capital and other transition costs, operating 
costs, consumer costs and other financial and technical barriers to enhanced recovery of 
municipal solid waste; and 
3.  Current litter control efforts in the State and opportunities for and barriers to 
reducing all types of litter in public spaces, roads, parks and beaches throughout the State; 
and be it further 
Sec. 3.  Report.  Resolved:  That the Executive Department, State Planning Office 
shall submit a report, based on the stakeholder group's findings under section 2, with any 
recommended changes to the beverage container recycling program to the joint standing 
committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over environment and natural resources 
matters by January 15, 2013; and be it further 
Sec. 4.  Funding sources.  Resolved:  That the review and analysis described in 
section 2 and the report described in section 3 must be funded through private funds 
received by the State from outside sources and dedicated to increasing recycling in 
Maine.  The stakeholder group described in section 1 shall administer private funds 
received with respect to the tasks identified in sections 2 and 3.  The stakeholder group 
has sole discretion to determine how private funds received to conduct this review and 
analysis are spent.  The stakeholder group may rely upon existing data, other studies and 
any other information it considers pertinent in order to complete the review and analysis 
described in section 2 and the report described in section 3. 
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This resolve directs the Executive Department, State Planning Office to convene a 
stakeholder group to analyze the beverage container recycling program in the State in the 
context of the State's municipal solid waste recycling program and to report to the joint 
standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over environment and natural 
resources matters by January 15, 2013.