South Portland Progress
waste reduction
6 in progress
3 not started
(updated March 2023)
Expand a pay-as-you-throw system to South Portland.
Status: In progress
Update: Analyzing the cost and feasibility of different PAYT models; presenting to Council in FY23 for adoption (updated March 2023)
Transformative potential: Regenerative
Key Milestones: Implement PAYT program in South Portland by 2026.
Mandate recycling for commercial and multifamily buildings.
Status: In progress
Update: Continuing tagging program and outreach about proper recycling; developing a business and multifamily recycling ordinance to present to Council in FY24 for adoption (updated March 2023)
Transformative potential: Regenerative
Key Milestones: Require recycling in commercial and multifamily residential buildings by 2026.
Expand programs to divert food waste and increase organics recycling rates to ensure that excess food is better used to nourish people, animals, industries, and soils.
Status: In progress
Update: Expanded food waste collection sites in West End; exploring options for citywide curbside food waste collection with PAYT (updated March 2023)
Transformative potential: Equitable, regenerative, resilient
Key Milestones: Reduce food waste in trash stream 70% by 2040.
Ban select single-use plastics and identify partnerships to reduce plastic waste,
Status: In Progress
Update: Participating in rulemaking for the state product stewardship for packaging program (updated March 2023)
Transformative potential: Regenerative, resilient
Key Milestones: Eliminate single-use plastics in the cities to the fullest extent practicable by 2026.
Foster a circular and sharing economy.
Status: In progress
Update: received funding to create a South Portland Electric Tool Library (SPETL); launching in FY23 (updated March 2023)
Transformative potential: Equitable, regenerative, resilient
Key Milestones: Ongoing efforts to establish new spaces, programs, or initiatives in each city that support resource sharing, reuse, or repair
Reduce construction and demolition waste through targeted re-use initiatives.
Status: Not started
Update: Mid-term strategy
Transformative potential: Regenerative, resilient
Key Milestone: Adopt C&D waste reduction targets and ordinance by 2035.
Work with state and regional partners to encourage “by-product synergy” with industrial waste streams.
Status: Not started
Update: Long-term strategy
Transformative potential: Regenerative, resilient
Key Milestone: Regional materials marketplace launched by 2035
Investigate options for reducing emissions of wastewater treatment with anaerobic digestion.
Status: Not started
Update: Long-term strategy
Transformative potential: Regenerative, resilient
Key Milestone: Engineering feasibility study commissioned by 2032
Adopt a sustainable purchasing policy for municipal procurement.
Status: In Progress
Update: Working to develop a sustainable purchasing policy for the City in FY24 (updated March 2023)
Transformative potential: Equitable, regenerative
Key Milestone: Sustainable purchasing policy adopted by 2024
