Today’s Solutions: July 14, 2025

As much as we like to think that the material we recycle makes its way back into the market as revitalized packaging, the reality is that US recycling systems are frustratingly inefficient. According to the Columbia Climate School, only 66 percent of discarded paper and cardboard, 27 percent of glass, and eight percent of plastics actually get recycled. The good news is that the state of Maine is trying to rectify this issue with innovative new recycling legislation.

A new policy, signed into law by governor Janet Mills this month, shifts recycling responsibility from consumers to producers by charging producers a fee for the amount of packaging they put into the market. Producers will also be responsible for 100 percent of the state’s recycling costs and receive incentives for reducing the amount of material used in their packaging.

Japan, South Korea, the EU, and several Canadian provinces have all enacted similar laws with great success. In Ireland, recycling rates for paper and plastic products rose from 19 percent in 2000 to 65 percent in 2017 after passing a producer-focused recycling bill.

Hopefully, the results of Maine’s new recycling experiment will inspire other states to follow suit and perhaps even influence federal recycling policies.

This story is part of our ‘Best of 2021’ series highlighting our top solutions from the year. Today we’re featuring policymaking solutions. 

Solutions News Source Print this article
More of Today's Solutions

A new study could change Alzheimer’s treatment by unlocking the brain’s...

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM A quiet but powerful ally in the brain may be reshaping how we understand and treat neurodegenerative disease. ...

Read More

Before you hit the road: 5 things to unplug before vacation

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Most people remember to lock the doors and turn off the lights before heading out for summer vacation. ...

Read More

How low can you go? The benefits of squatting like a toddler

Squats are a staple of most workout routines (especially on leg days), but what about a deep resting squat? That isn't always a go-to, ...

Read More

Hospitality workers’ wages get unprecedented boost with 30% wage increases

In an unexpected turn of events, the hospitality industry, long associated with some of the lowest-paid occupations, is undergoing a wage revolution. Over the last ...

Read More