Maine's Statewide Pilot Recycling Program Aims to Cut Plastic Waste

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The State of Maine Department of Environmental Protection Waste Diversion Grant awarded $38,764 to University of Maine Cooperative Extension to develop a statewide pilot program to recycle agricultural greenhouse plastic and other agricultural plastic structures. The pilot program, which will run through 15^th December, 2020, aims to collect at least one-third of the state’s annual waste greenhouse plastic.

According to University website, participants are required to pre-register online. Those without internet could register by phone. The program will collect relatively clean and dry LDPE #4 clear plastic used to cover greenhouses, high tunnels, hoop houses, and other agricultural structures. In addition, it will also accept white overwintering plastic bundled separately from clear plastic. A network of convenient sites has already been earmarked across Maine.

The participants are required to remove old plastic and cut into pieces weighing approximately 50 lbs. The plastic must then be folded into a square bundle to fit the dimensions of a standard wood pallet. The plastic bundles must then be labelled with name and bundle number. Finally, they should register the bundles for drop-off online or in person.

The collected plastic material will be reused for making other useful products related to agricultural production.

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