The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded a $2,000,000 Project Grant to Ecomaine under the Reduce, Reuse, Recycling Education and Outreach (REO) Grants program (CFDA 66.921) to enhance residential recycling efforts in southern, coastal, and central Maine. The grant will fund a targeted pilot program focused on multi-family dwelling units, where recycling participation has traditionally been limited. Key activities include:
Creating and broadcasting public service announcements across various media channels
Developing and distributing educational materials such as door hangers, informational cards, and recycling bin stickers
Establishing a dedicated website to provide stakeholders with information on regulations, requirements, and recycling best practices
Providing translation services to reach Maine's growing immigrant populations
Developing a program toolkit to inform Ecomaine's future recycling initiatives and assist other jurisdictions
The intended outcome is to increase the municipal recycling rate in the impacted communities by diverting more recyclable materials from the waste stream, particularly in multi-family housing. The grant performance period is August 1, 2024 to July 31, 2027.