Ecomaine seeks school recycling services

Portland, Maine-based Ecomaine has issued a call for schools in its member communities to propose projects focused on waste diversion in order to receive up to $5,000 in funding. Projects that focus on waste reduction or reuse, recycling or composting are eligible for consideration, says the group. The deadline for proposals is Monday, May 16.

“Our goal through the School Recycling Grants program is to help schools with their waste reduction and diversion programs,” said Matt Grondin, Ecomaine’s communications manager. “We hear from educators that this kind of hands-on learning experience is a valuable experience, and hopefully this funding can make sustainability education more accessible to Maine’s students and schools.”

Schools, including those from pre-K to secondary education, as well as afterschool programs from any of Ecomaine’s more than 70 member communities are qualified to submit a proposal via this web page, the organization says.

Past grant proposals have ranged from purchasing in-school recycling bins or educational resources to offsetting compost hauling fees, litter cleanups or installing water bottle-filling stations to reduce plastic bottle consumption.

Ecomaine describes itself as a member-owned, nonprofit, recycling and waste-to-energy operation that serves a third of the state’s population.