All right, so main is no stranger to leading
the cause when it comes to climate change. Starting
with being one of the first states to pass a
plastic bottle bill back in 1970, and now they're
taking on recycling a new state law will shift the
cost of recycling to the companies that produce the waste
in the first place, moving the burden essentially away
from the consumer joining us. Now, a state
representative, Nichole Grohowski of main representative, thank you
so much for being here. Tell us about this
bill exactly how it works. Um thank you so
much for having me. It's a real pleasure to
join you today. So right now taxpayers are sharing
, having the entire burden of paying to uh manage
the waste that we get the packaging that we get
when we buy products were not really interested in the
packaging, were interested in what's inside and so we
throw that out or we recycle it and it's on
the taxpayers to pay for that. What this law
does, it shifts the burden from the taxpayer to
the producer of the waste so that they have incentives
to reduce packaging waste and also make better packaging.
What kind of feedback have you received from some of
these bigger companies who will now have that burden shift
back to them. Well, the really interesting thing
about these companies, especially the multinational companies, is
that they already participate in programs like this and so
many other countries in the world, over 40 different
countries and five Canadian provinces, so we know that
they are familiar with and comfortable with these programs.
Belgium for instance has been running a program like this
for over 30 years. So while they are reticent
to participate in maine and in the United States,
we know that they are capable in terms of the
feedback or potential feedback from taxpayers. Can you just
hone in on exactly what the average savings to a
main taxpayer will be. Sure that's a great question
. So right now to manage our waste uh and
we are getting about a 36% recycling rate. And
main though our goal is 50% to manage our waste
is costing us between 16 and$17 million according to
our Department of Environmental Protection. So we know that
the savings will be at least that much, but
we expect that we will be able to create better
programs and fund those and also fund education so that
all main people will have the same access to recycling
regardless of where they live, you homed in a
little bit on, you know, hoping that this
will get companies to take a look at their packaging
and downsizing where there can where they can. But
the companies, some companies at least are already doing
this. Are you hoping that this will kind of
force or just um you know, allowing to be
nudged some of these other companies to do it or
more companies to do it. Yeah, so we
know that there are a lot of companies that are
trying to do the right thing for the environment and
especially in terms of their packaging, but this will
create an even playing field for them, A competitive
playing field so that they are not penalized in the
market for doing what is right. So we really
hope that we'll see other companies um innovate in the
way that so many already do. You know,
it's our understanding that that some european countries kind of
already have this kind of model. Did you look
at that and the experience and how it's how it's
going in europe as a, as a reason why
to implement it in maine and if you can talk
about how it's going there. Sure. So for
some of these longstanding programs like Belgium that I mentioned
, they are paying the same per capita run to
run their programs, but they're getting about double the
recycling rates as we get main. So we know
it's a really efficient tool to improve our waste management
and to move up that waste management hierarchy from trash
for incineration up to recycle and even better reduced.
Um so we were able to model this legislation after
successful programs, especially in Quebec which is a neighboring
province to us here in Maine, speaking of kind
of following footsteps here, I wonder have you heard
from other states that are thinking of following in maine's
footsteps here. Sure. So Oregon was close on
our heels there, governor has signed a similar bill
and we know that there are about 10 other states
interested big states like California and New York. We've
been in touch with them and are discussing some of
our strategies for getting a bill like this past.
We hope to see those large economies following suit soon
. You know, as we noted at the top
of the segment, we know that Maine is not
shy about being essentially in the front of this,
you know, crowded space when it comes to environmental
legislation. Um, what are you looking at next
? Even beyond this bill, it's a great question
. Um, really excited to see the work going
on in California around making sure that recycling symbols are
used appropriately so that you don't see those chasing arrows
on products that are actually not recyclable. So I
hope that we can take their lead a little bit
and have that be the next step here and me
. All right, thank you so much for your
time and the work that you're doing. State Representative
Nichole Grohowski of Maine