Every year when property tax bills are issued, I hear people complaining about how costly their taxes are. Yet, these funds are essential to cover the cost of municipal services. One of the most costly services is trash/recycling pickup, transportation and disposal. Maine’s taxpayers pay $16 million to $17.5 million per year to manage packaging waste either through recycling or disposal.

Packaging makes up nearly 40% of our waste stream, and much of it isn’t designed with recycling in mind. L.D. 1541, An Act To Support and Improve Municipal Recycling Programs and Save Taxpayer Money, is being considered by the Legislature. Maine towns and cities, like Waterville, could be reimbursed for the cost of operating their municipal recycling program. That’s why the Waterville City Council and 24 other Maine municipalities endorsed the policy earlier this year.

Such a cost-reducing program is possible. In fact, it already exists in dozens of countries around the world and five Canadian provinces. Additionally, 500 brand owners that do business in Maine already participate in a similar Canadian recycling program. If those companies can afford to do it elsewhere, they can do it here, too.

Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging creates an incentive for corporations to help make recycling simpler by improving the design and recyclability of their packaging. It will also give municipalities the financial support they need to keep and expand recycling programs — no more having to choose between raising taxes or cutting recycling.

Please join me in contacting your legislators and ask them to support L.D. 1541.

 

Linda Woods

Waterville

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