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 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
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In Maine, the SO must respond to an RFP released by Maine DEP in September 2025.
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In Maine, participant producers must join the approved SO in May 2026.
NOTE – Producers may choose to comply with LD 1541 as an individual company, provided the individual company provides for the management of their material.
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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.
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In Maine, participant producers must join and report data to the approved SO in May 2026.
Key Milestones in the Regulatory and Implementation Process
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July 12, 2021
Governor Mills Signs 1541.
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September 2025
Maine DEP Releases RFP.
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April 2026
Maine DEP Contracts with SO.
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![May 2026]()
May 2026
Producers Register with the SO and report data.
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September 2026
Producers Remit Start-Up Fees to SO.
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October 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 incorporated comments into the rules, publishing the “Reposting Draft,” and is accepting comments on these revised draft rules until August 26 at 5:00 p.m. Comments can be emailed to rulecomments.dep@maine.gov.
More information can be found on Maine DEP Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging page and the Maine Board of Environmental Protection’s Rulemaking 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 will draft rules pertaining to exemptions for material and product types if they deem it appropriate based on requests for exemption received from producers. This is the only major/substantive rule called for under Chapter 428.
Advisory Board
LD 1541 does not require the creation of a public Advisory Board.
