State Specific Policy Resources: Maine

Auxiliary Containers

• Me. Rev. Stat. Title 38, Ch. 16, 38 §1611. Plastic bag reduction (ISRI note: bans "single-use carry-out bags" beginning April 22, 2020; minimum $0.05 fee for recycled paper bags and reusable plastic bags) (created by 2019 Maine LD 1532; also repealed 38 §1605. Plastic bags; recycling)
• Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. Title 36, Part 3, Ch. 211, 36 §1752. Definitions (ISRI note: sales tax - "sale price" excludes any amount charged for a paper or plastic single-use carry-out bag) (as amended by 2019 Maine LD 1831)

Electronics Recycling

• Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. Title 38, Ch. 16; 38 § 1610 Electronic Waste (as amended by 2018 Maine LD 1847)
• ME Dept. of Environmental Protection - Electronic Recycling homepage

Materials Theft

• Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. Title 30-A, Ch. 183, Subch. 1-A Scrap Metal Processors; 30-A §3771 to 30-A §3778 (as amended by 2022 Maine LD 796, effective Aug 8, 2022)
• Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. Title 29-A: Motor Vehicles and Traffic (as amended by 2022 Maine LD 796, effective Aug 8, 2022)
  • Ch. 1: General Provisions, 29-A §101. Definitions (ISRI Note: catalytic converter definition)
  • Ch. 3, Subch. 1, 29-A §159. Motor vehicle services fund (ISRI Note: includes revenue from the sale of catalytic converters forfeited to the state)
  • Chapter 9: Dealers
  • Subch. 3: Licensing of Dealers, 29-A §952. Requirements (ISRI Note: includes requirement for vehicle dealers to engrave catalytic converters with VIN)
  • Subch. 6: Licensing of Recyclers; 29-A §1101 to 29-A §1113 (ISRI Note: vehicle Recycler licensing and catalytic converter requirements)
• ISRI Summary of Maine Metal Scrap Statute (Oct 17, 2022)

Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility

• Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. Title 38, Ch. 24, Subch. 3, § 2146,Stewardship program for packaging (created by 2021 Maine LD 1541) 
• ME DEP: Extended Producer Responsibility Program for Packaging information page.
  • Includes a Schedule for Implementation of various provisions, stakeholder outreach, and rulemaking

Recycled Content Mandates

• Me. Rev. Stat. Title 38, Ch. 16 § 1615 Plastic beverage containers (reallocated from 38 MRSA § 1612) (as created by 2022 Maine LD 1497): Requires all plastic beverage containers distributed in a state by a deposit initiator or spirits manufacturer contain, on average and in the aggregate:
  • 25% post-consumer recycled plastic by 2026
  • 30% post-consumer recycled plastic by 2030
  • The initiator or manufacturer must pay a fee based on the percentage not attained
• Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. Title 38, Ch. 24, Subch. 3, § 2146. Stewardship program for packaging, requires that payment schedules be adopted by rule by the DEP must incentivize the use of recycled content in packaging material, but does not set specific targets.

Scrap Yard / Junk Yard Zoning

• Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. Title 30-A, Ch. 183, Subchapter 1: Junkyards and Automobile Graveyards; 30-A § 3751 to 30-A § 3760

State / Municipal Programs

• Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework: Me. Rev. Stat. Title 38, Ch. 18. Product Stewardship; 38 §1771 to 38 §1776 (as amended by 2019 Maine LD 1649)
• 2019 Maine LD 1431 requires the Dept. of Environmental Protection to develop legislation for packaging EPR and submit to the legislature by Dec. 16, 2019.
• State Reporting
• Me. Rev. Stat. Title 38, Ch. 13, Subch. 1, 38 §1310-B. Confidential information (ISRI note: sub 2. includes reference to recycling reports) (as amended by 2019 Maine LD 112)
• Me. Rev. Stat. Title 36, Ch. 24. Solid Waste Management and Recycling
• Subch. 1, 38 §2101-A. Definitions (ISRI note: defines "recycling establishment" and "reportable recyclable materials") (as amended by 2019 Maine LD 112)
• Subch. 3, 38 §2133. Municipal Recycling (ISRI note: sub 7. Recycling progress reports) (as amended by 2019 Maine LD 112)
• Subch. 3, 38 §2145. Recycling reporting (as created by 2019 Maine LD 112)

State Superfund (no SREA equivalent)

• Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. Title 38, Ch. 13-B Uncontrolled Hazardous Substance Sites; 38 § 1361 to 38 § 1371

Stormwater Permitting

• Maine DEP - Multi-Sector General Permit Information Page
• Permit Number MER050000 - Stormwater Discharge Associated with Industrial Activity
  Effective: 12/07/16; Expires: 12/06/21
• Notice of Intent for Stormwater Discharges Associated with Industrial Activity

Tire / Rubber

• Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. Title 29-A, Ch. 17: Equipment
• 29-A §1917. Tires and wheels
• 29-A §1918. Regrooved tires
• 29-A §1919. Studded tires
• 29-A §1920. Vehicle frame height
• Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. Title 38: Waters and Navigation
• Ch. 2, Subch. 2, 38 §352. Fees
• Ch. 4, 38 §606-A. Tire-derived fuel
• Ch. 13: Waste Management
• Subch. 1, 38 §1303-C. Definitions (ISRI Note: includes "responsible party", "uncontrolled tire stockpile")
• Subch. 2-A: Tire Stockpile Abatement; 38 §1316 to 38 §1316-G
• Subch. 2-B: Management of Motor Vehicle Tires; 38 §1316-L to 38 §1316-M (as amended by 2019 Maine LD 1407)
• Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. Title 36. Taxation
• Part 3, Ch. 211, 36 §1752. Definitions (ISRI note: sales tax - "sale price" excludes any amount charged for the disposal of used tires) (as amended by 2019 Maine LD 1831)
• Part 7, Ch. 719. Recycling Assistance Fee; 36 §4831 to 36 §4834 (ISRI Note: imposed on new tires and new lead-acid batteries)

Vehicle Detitling / Dismantling

• Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. Title 29-A. Motor Vehicles and Traffic
• Ch. 1. General Provisions
• 29-A §101. Definitions
• 29-A §106. Enforcement of laws pertaining to dealers, transporters and automobile graveyards (as amended by 2019 Maine LD 1783)
• Ch. 3, Subch. 3, 29-A §251. Records and databases related to driver's licenses and motor vehicles
• Ch. 7. Title to Vehicles; 29A §601 to 29A §756
• 29A §652. Exempted Vehicles (ISRI note: sub. 18 exempts vehicles at least 20 years old from title requirements if recordkeeping and reporting requirements met) (as amended by 2019 Maine LD 823 and 2019 Maine LD 1783)
• 29A §667. Salvage (as amended by 2019 Maine LD 1783)
• Ch. 9, Subch. 6. Licensing of Recyclers; 29-A §1101 to 29-A §1112 (as amended by 2019 Maine LD 1783)
• Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. Title 30-A, Ch. 183, Subchapter 1. Junkyards and Automobile Graveyards; 30-A §3751 to 30-A §3760