To promote sustainable options for post-vacation tree disposal, ecoaine, the Portland-based recycling and waste management company, has released an online tool with solutions and locations for drop-off or collection. trees.
The ecoaine recycling and waste management company has put a tool online offering solutions and places to drop or collect trees. Courtesy photo
“We wanted to find a way to stick to the solid waste hierarchy and keep more waste out of landfills in Maine,” said Katrina Bussiere-Venhuizen, one of ecomaine’s environmental educators, in a report. -mail of December 16. “Often, trees are thrown away or burned, when they could be reused as wood chips or compost. We hope this tool will be a win-win for residents and sustainability in Maine.”
Bussiere-Venhuizen is credited with establishing the tool. The map and list of sustainable disposal of holiday trees are available at www.ecomaine.org.
The tool aims to provide location information in the more than 65 ecomaine member communities so residents can bring their tree in and ensure it is shredded, mulched or composted – or, in a small number of places. cases, municipalities that offer curbside collection of trees.
“While this list is not statewide exhaustive, it is a good start to promoting readily available sustainable purposes for a fairly common waste this time of year,” said Matt Grondin, responsible for ecomaine communications, in an e-mail. “We welcome the additions to the database, in order to continue to increase similar solutions for this year and the years to come. “
The parish announces the Christmas schedule
The parish of Saint John Paul II, made up of the Catholic churches of South Portland, Cape Elizabeth and Scarborough, will offer the following Christmas masses:
Christmas Eve – December 24
4 p.m. and 7 p.m., Holy Cross in South Portland; 4 p.m. and 9 p.m., Saint-Barthélemy in Cape Elizabeth; and 4 p.m., 6:30 p.m., midnight, St. Maximilian Kolbe in Scarborough.
Christmas morning – December 25
10 a.m., Sainte-Croix in South Portland; 9 am, Saint-Barthélemy in Cape Elizabeth; 8:00 am, St. Maximilian Kolbe in Scarborough.
South Portland Land Trust Celebrates 2021 Achievements and Elects Officers
The South Portland Land Trust held its annual meeting on December 9, celebrating the achievements of the organization and recognizing the many board members and volunteers who contributed to the success of 2021. The Land Trust also elected its board of directors. ‘administration.
Alex Redfield was elected president; Charles “Tex” Haeuser, vice-president; Susan Osborne, Treasurer; and Andrea McCall, secretary.
In a year filled with special challenges due to the pandemic, the achievements of the South Portland Land Trust include:
• Obtaining final easements to construct the Clark’s Pond loop trail in the spring.
• Donation of 2,000 red cedar seedlings.
• Work with the City of South Portland to build the Armory Trail.
• Creation of a new business partner program.
• Spearhead the annual Earth Day cleanup throughout the city; work with the city on weekly Earth Month programs.
• Lead volunteer trail work projects on National Trails Day and National Public Lands Day, including the construction of 15 bog bridges for the South Branch.
• Obtained a record $ 25,000 in grants for capacity building and training on “equity in conservation”.
• Granting of a scholarship to Courtney Lee, senior of South Portland High School, for her environmental stewardship.
• Supervise South Portland High School student Skyler Morse on an Eagle Scout project to plant 275 cedar seedlings to create a buffer zone for the Clark’s Pond Trail.
Past President Richard Rottkov announced Land Trust Volunteer of the Year, Andrew Gagnon, who dedicated many hours and worked as a steward for the Clark’s Pond Trail.
“The South Portland Land Trust exists to make our natural resources available to everyone, in large part thanks to volunteers like Andy, who build, maintain and protect our open spaces,” Rottkov said in an email. “Throughout the year, he has generously devoted countless hours to our trails through active maintenance efforts and organized work days. We are so grateful.
The annual meeting also featured a special presentation on “Re-Wilding Your Yard and Land,” by Anna Fialkov, Program Manager of The Wild Seed Project. The presentation focused on how to transform lawns and home gardens into layers of native plants. Emphasis was placed on how to adopt mindful practices that benefit the planet’s wildlife and health, and how to plant native trees that support local food webs.
For more information or to volunteer, visit www.southportlandlandtrust.org/.
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