Maine
Maine's LD 1541 requires producers of consumer packaging material to join a Stewardship Organization (SO)*, and through the SO, fund the end of life of that material, which includes reimbursements to participating municipalities for managing packaging material that is both readily recyclable and that which is not readily recyclable.
CAA intends to respond to the Maine’s RFP to serve as its SO.
*LD 1541 uses the term Stewardship Organization instead of Producer Responsibility Organization.
FAQ
Key Information for Producers
-
In Maine, the SO must respond to an RFP released by Maine DEP by the fall of 2025.
-
In Maine, participant producers must join the approved SO within 6 months of a SO’s approval.
NOTE – Producers may choose to comply with LD 1541 as an individual company, provided the individual company provides for the management of their material.
-
In Maine, participant producers must join and pay fees to the approved SO within 6 months of a SO’s approval.
CAA will continue to develop guidance for producers regarding their fee requirements under LD 1541.
-
In Maine, participant producers must join and report data to the approved SO within 6 months of a SO’s approval.
Key Milestones in the Regulatory and Implementation Process
-
![]()
July 12, 2021
Governor Mills Signs 1541.
-
![]()
Expected Late 2025
Maine DEP Releases RFP.
-
![]()
Expected Early-Mid 2026
Maine DEP Selects SO.
-
![]()
Expected Mid-Late 2026
Producers Remit Fees to SO.
-
![]()
Expected Early 2027
SO Remits First Payments to Municipalities.
State Rulemaking Updates
Stakeholder Meetings
Maine DEP hosted regular stakeholder workshops as part of the informal rulemaking process. In Fall 2023, it released Conceptual Draft Rules in three parts. CAA submitted comments in response. The Maine Board of Environmental Protection considered the proposed draft rules and approved them for public posting as part of the formal rulemaking process.
Formal Rulemaking
Under the formal rulemaking process, the rules developed by Maine DEP will include routine/technical rules which may be promulgated directly by the Maine Board of Environmental Protection (BEP), and may include major/substantive rules which must be approved by the Legislature before being promulgated by the BEP. BEP voted on January 18, 2024, to post the routine/technical draft rules, initiating the formal rulemaking process. A public hearing was then held on March 7. The public comment period ended on March 18. DEP is currently working to incorporate stakeholder input into the rules.
More information can be found on Maine DEP Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging page.
Maine’s EPR for packaging law requires Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to identify packaging material that should be exempted from the state’s program due to federal regulatory limitations on a producer’s ability to increase the recyclability or decrease the volume of packaging associated with a product. Maine DEP invites producers to submit a Packaging Material Exemption Request to MainePackagingEPR@maine.gov by May 20, 2024. This is the only major/substantive rule called for under Chapter 428. The second deliberation session will occur on June 20.
Advisory Board
LD 1541 does not require the creation of a public Advisory Board.
