More and more of our household waste is ending up in landfills, including things that could be recycled or composted. The amount of municipal solid waste sent to landfills in Maine rose 47% between 2018 -2022, according to a report released in early 2024 by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection.
Food waste and plastics are two things that we as consumers can help divert from landfills.
There are two initiatives by Belfast citizens currently helping with local solutions, and in this FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC brown bag lunch program we'll hear the most recent updates:
Community Composting
The citizen-led Community Composting Collaborative worked since early 2023 to find a location for a Belfast community compost drop-off site. In July 2024, the City Council approved the Collaborative’s proposal to have a one-year trial at the Belfast Transfer Station, administered by ScrapDogs. The program started on November 1st. Citizens of Belfast are now able to drop off their food scraps for free - and can subscribe for a fee to pick up finished compost. Read here for full details.
This effort grew out of educational programming through All of Belfast Climate Dialogues, Belfast Garden Club and the Unitarian Universalist Church of Belfast Climate Action Team.
Presenters: Corliss Davis, Marje Stickler, and Dianne Torresen of the Belfast Community Composting Collaborative
Plastic Pollution Solutions
The appalling sight of plastic litter along our shoreline and roadsides prompted the 2023 group of Penobscot Bay Stewards (part of the Belfast Bay Watershed Coalition) to form the Plastic Pollution Solutions committee. They are focused on removing single-use plastic utensils, straws, etc. from the waste stream.
The group is building community support through education to raise awareness and talking with Belfast restaurants. They hope to pass a future ordinance banning single-use plastic food service items in Belfast.
Presenter: Kris Shula, Plastic Pollution Solutions committee
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This program is FREE AND OPEN to the public and co-sponsored and presented by members of the Waldo County Climate Action Coalition. Feel free to bring your lunch -- and invite a friend! Registration is helpful to us, but optional - please drop in at United Methodist Church in Belfast.
Photo credits: New community composting being offered at Belfast Transfer Station, photo Dianne Torresen; Plastic Pollution Solutions presentation by Kris Shula at Belfast Free Library, June 2024, photo Brenda Harrington.
