Ecomaine hosts open house

Ecomaine, a nonprofit waste management organization serving more than 70 member communities based in Portland, Maine, will host its annual open house Sept. 29 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. More than 600 people are expected to attend the event, which will include free electronic scrap recycling, free recycling bins (while supplies last), free breakfast and coffee, kid’s activities, mascots, informational tours and more.

The open house will offer free tours of its single-sort recycling facility and its waste-to-energy plant, where Mainers’ trash is burned to generate enough electricity for 15,000 homes. 

Additionally, Ecomaine will provide complimentary breakfast sandwiches, coffee, cider, apples and free recycling bins for attendees. Children’s activities will include face painting, papermaking, weaving crafts, Halloween costume-making and appearances by mascots from the Portland Sea Dogs, Maine Red Claws and the new Maine Mariners hockey franchise. 

Ecomaine’s partner organizations in sustainability will also be on hand to provide information on reducing, reusing, recycling, composting and sustainable energy.

The organization will offer free electronic scrap recycling, courtesy of North Coast Services, Portsmouth, New Hampshire. A list of acceptable items can be found at ecomaine.org. 

“This event is a real showcase for Ecomaine,” Kevin Roche, Ecomaine CEO, says. “We feel that when our residents come spend an hour with us, they’ll learn so much about where their waste goes, and what happens to it, and when they tell their friends and family, the power of that just can’t be understated.”

“We encourage people to come early – this has been an extremely popular event, with lots of interest over the years,” John Morin, Ecomaine’s Recycling Manager, says. “Seeing people of all ages learning about recycling and sustainable waste management is a great thing, not just for Ecomaine, but for the entire state, as we look to the future of how we deal with our recycling and trash in Maine.”

Additional information about the 2018 Ecomaine Open House is available at ecomaine.org, on Ecomaine’s Facebook page or by calling 207-773-1738.