KENNEBEC JOURNAL • July 29, 2021
The inertia caused by legislative term limits, eliminating any long-term experience, continues to dog Maine lawmakers trying to craft complex, ground-breaking legislation. Yet bills were enacted during the recent legislative session to meet important public needs. One was a comprehensive, first-in-the-nation law called “Extended Producer Responsibility” that dramatically expands manufacturers’ financial contributions to waste disposal programs, as was previously done for a range of difficult-to-dispose-of products, including pharmaceuticals, mattresses and paint. Dozens of states are considering similar laws, which work well in Europe. ~ Douglas Rooks