South Portland Progress

waste reduction
6 in progress
3 not started

(updated March 2023)


WR 1.1 Pay-As-You-Throw

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.

WR 1.2 Single-Stream Recycling

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.

WR 1.3 Food Waste Reduction and Organics Recycling

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.

WR 1.4 Single-Use Plastics

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.

WR 1.5 Circular Sharing Economy

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

WR 2.1 Construction and New Demolition Waste

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.

WR 2.2 Industrial Waste

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

WR 2.3 Wastewater Emissions

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

WR 2.4 Sustainable Purchasing Policy

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