PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • February 26, 2026
A major theme of Earth Day this year is the need to reduce plastic. Scientists estimate that humans consume a credit-card size of plastic a week. Most plastic is derived from fossil fuels. The major oil companies know that in order to sell plastic to consumers, they need to convince people that it can be recycled. Sadly, 91% of plastic cannot be recycled. Plastic fabrication must be reduced. This can be achieved by limiting the production of oil, and the best way to accomplish that is with a carbon fee and dividend: placing a fee on fossil fuels at their source, such as a well or a mine, and returning the money collected to American households in monthly dividend checks to spend as they wish. ~ Kimberlee Hammond, Frankfort