ecomaine

Two weekends ago, we were at Pet Rock in the Park! 🐶♻️

Our team set up shop at Deering Oaks to talk recycling and waste reduction with the community, while our four-legged friends posed for pictures and proceeds went to support the Animal Cancer Foundation. One visitor got so excited about recycling, he just had to see our table up close.

🌱 The eco-Impact Grant cycle is in full swing, and we're looking back at what past winners built with theirs.

STRIVE TOPS used their grant to launch a hands-on garden and recycled art program for their students. They built a mini-greenhouse, started seeds, and grew their own raised beds, eventually harvesting herbs and greens they grew themselves. Along the way, students learned to compost their own food scraps, diverting 257 pounds of food waste and donating over 1,578 gallons of finished compost to local gardens.

The program didn't stop at the garden. Students learned to use a Chomp Saw to turn recycled materials into art, culminating in a student-led Recycled Art Exhibition. They also picked up new skills in marketing and design, creating their own flyers and presentations to share the project with their community.

🔗Learn more about grant eligibility, guidelines, and the application process at the link in our bio!

🏆 We couldn't be prouder of our team!

ecomaine's Waste-to-Energy Facility just received the 2026 Facility Excellence Award in the Waste Conversion & Energy Recovery category from the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA). This honor is a credit to our operators, supervisors, electricians, maintenance crews, safety team, and the entire ecomaine community. Everyone who keeps this vital piece of Maine's waste infrastructure running safely and effectively played a critical role in earning this honor - thank you for your service to ecomaine and all the Mainers who rely on us!

📍 Matinicus Island, Maine

At ecomaine, we see a lot of how Maine handles its waste, but 22 miles off the coast, Matinicus Island does it a little differently, and with many added challenges.

Back in 2002, Eva Murray, one of the island's year-round residents, started a small recycling program that has grown steadily since. With donations from the community and the help of island volunteers, residents can bring their materials to a series of wooden sheds, twice a week in summer and once a week in winter. The sheds store the island's recyclables until "Dump Day," when Eva hauls everything off-island, by ferry (which runs just 36 times a year) and U-Haul, to the mainland in Rockland, dropping materials at the transfer station, Goodwill, redemption center, and hardware store.

Getting to see how a community this size, and this remote, solves its waste challenges was a great reminder that there's no one-size-fits-all approach to recycling & waste management. Thanks to Eva and the whole Matinicus crew for having us!

🌱Applications are officially OPEN for ecomaine's 2026-2027 eco-Impact Grants!

Our waste diversion grants have been supporting schools around the state for over a decade. This school year, grants are back as eco-Impact Grants: a brand new name to reflect the program's mission of supporting impactful, student-centered sustainability projects.

Our eco-Impact Grants offer up to $7,500 per project, and are open to schools and non-profit educational organizations serving students in ecomaine communities. Whether it's composting, cutting back on single-use cafeteria ware, expanding recycling access, or developing a student-centered education campaign, we want to help make it happen.

Applications are due Tuesday, October 20th, 2026 by 11:59pm. Apply now at https://hubs.li/Q04tl2Md0, or click the link in our bio!

At work, home, and in your community, every small habit to cut plastic waste adds up. They're not just "drops in the ocean." 🌊

♻️What are you doing to reduce plastic use this summer? Comment below, we'd love to hear from you!

The sun is out, the watermelon is cut, and fireworks season is here. Before you light up the sky this Fourth, know how to wrap up the night safely. 🎆

Soak spent fireworks and sparklers in water overnight, wrap tight, and toss with your regular household trash. Got duds or unused fireworks? Your local fire department or hazardous waste facility can help.

While you're at it, stretch your sustainability streak by planning meals to avoid food waste, going reusable where you can, and carpooling to cut down on emissions this holiday.

A few extra steps go a long way for your neighbors, your haulers, and Maine. 💚

June is National Safety Month, and batteries are one of the biggest hazards we face every day here at ecomaine. When tossed in your bin or mixed with recyclables, lithium-ion and other rechargeable batteries can puncture, short-circuit, and spark fires that put our workers and your community at risk.

The good news is that it can be prevented!

🔋 Never put rechargeable batteries in your trash or recycling bin.
🔋 Tape the terminals and drop them off at a designated collection site.
🔋 Look for battery recycling at local retailers or municipal drop-offs.

Find reliable locations to dispose of batteries safely & share this with someone who needs to see it. Help us keep our crew, facilities, and communities safe by disposing of your batteries properly. Every battery properly handled is a fire that never happens.

🔗 Find a drop-off near you: https://hubs.li/Q04mY29B0

Meet the City of Sanford, this year's eco-Excellence Award winner for Municipality of the Year!

From textile diversion to multi-family recycling to community-wide outreach, Sanford has built a sustainability program that touches nearly every corner of the city. In its first year alone, their Apparel Impact partnership collected nearly 134 tons of textiles, and their work with ecomaine's Multi-Family Recycling Initiative expanded from 61 units to 173 in just a few months - diverting nearly 1,800 pounds of recyclables in it's first few weeks.

Congratulations to the City of Sanford, we're glad to honor them as part of this year's eco-Excellence Awards.

🌱 Read more about each winner of this year's eco-Excellence Awards at the link in our bio.