Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Reducing the amount of materials we buy and use, reusing items, and recycling products and packaging, are all actions that significantly reduce our environmental impacts and help us achieve a “circular economy”. By reducing, reusing, and recycling, we:

• decrease air and water pollution from waste disposal;
• conserve materials for continuous reuse in making new products;
• reduce demand for mining and extraction of virgin materials; and
• reduce the amount of energy used to make new products.

It has been Maine's goal since 1989 to reach a recycling rate of 50% of our municipal solid waste generated. The most recent numbers (for 2016) show Maine’s municipal solid waste recycling rate is at 36.79%. To help reach our statewide recycling goal, the Maine DEP provides technical and educational assistance to residents, municipalities, schools, and businesses to help increase the amount of resources that are recovered from the waste stream.  DEP also collects, synthesizes, and reports data on solid waste management in Maine.

Closing the Loop

Did you know that each arrow in the recycling symbol represent an important step in the recycling process? The first arrow starts with you – it represents community participation as residents bring their recyclable items to the transfer station or put them in a curbside bin for pickup. The next arrow represents the process of recycling these materials into new, usable goods. The last arrow is the one that closes the loop – that’s when items made from recycled goods are put to use.  You can help “close the loop” by buying products made from recycled materials.