Maine’s leader in sustainable waste management unveils six-month guided curriculum to become ‘certified ecomaineiac’ with education on proper recycling practices, industry markets, policies and advocacy, and waste reduction
ecomaine is pleased to announce the launch of an all-new educational curriculum designed to provide participants with six months of information, activities, and background to certify them as ‘Master Recyclers.’
Like master gardener programs that create a network of trained horticulturists, ecomaine created the course in response to a growing interest in recycling, composting, and sustainable waste management.
“It’s our hope that, with each group of ‘certified ecomaineiacs,’ we will see more and better ambassadors all around Maine who will advocate for long-term, sustainable solid waste solutions,” said Matt Grondin, ecomaine’s Communications Manager. “We know Maine residents want to know ‘which bin to put things in,’ and by creating a network of informed recyclers, that knowledge can spread to their neighbors, friends, and families.”
The course contains five chapters with activities that can be completed online, in participants’ homes, and around their own neighborhoods. Each unit ranges in theme, including: the “do’s and don’ts” of recycling; the process of collecting, sorting, and marketing recyclables; local, state, and federal policies; and the value of recycling to the environment and the global supply chain.
“There’s so much interest in recycling, and recycling correctly,” said Vanessa Berry, an ecomaine Environmental Educator, and course moderator. “We want to give people the tools to really dive into it and make deeper connections with those materials that many people don’t give a second thought to.”
The course will start with new cohorts each month; participants will have six months to complete the program and will have access to ecomaine’s education staff and resources along the way. Potential participants can sign up for more information at ecomaine’s website or by calling 207-523-3142.
