CHAPTER 277
S.P. 479 - L.D. 1543
An Act to Reduce the Release of Dioxin from Consumer Products into the Environment
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §9324, sub-§7, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 512, §5, is amended to read:
7. Trash. Out-of-door burning of highly combustible trash is prohibited where municipal trash collection service is available and will accept those materials. Out-of-door burning of plastics, rubber, styrofoam, metals, food wastes or chemicals is prohibited in all areas of the State.
For purposes of this subsection, the following terms have the following meanings.
A. "Highly combustible trash" means wooden boxes or other wood material, paper and cardboard.
B. "Municipal trash collection service" means any a transfer station, curbside trash collection service or other service that is operated or contracted for by the municipality or that is required by municipal ordinance.
Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §9324, sub-§8 is enacted to read:
8. Construction and demolition debris. The out-of-door burning of construction and demolition debris containing plastics, rubber, styrofoam, metals, food wastes or chemicals is prohibited.
Sec. 3. 38 MRSA §2132, sub-§4 is enacted to read:
4. Reduction in dioxin. It is the policy of the State to reduce the total release of dioxin and mercury to the environment with the goal of its continued minimization and, where feasible, ultimate elimination.
Sec. 4. One-time education program. The Department of Environmental Protection, contingent upon available resources, shall implement a one-time education program relating to dioxin-forming products as set forth in this section.
1. Educational information. The program implemented under this section must provide information to the public about the environmental health hazards of dioxin-forming products, how to identify labeled dioxin-forming products, the requirements of the law regarding burning of waste dioxin-forming products and collection programs or disposal options that are available to the public to facilitate land disposal of waste dioxin-forming products.
2. Dissemination of information. Priority for the dissemination of educational information developed under this program must be given to persons who live in:
A. Municipalities that do not provide municipal trash service as defined in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 12, section 9324, subsection 7 and do not prohibit out-of-door burning of highly combustible trash; and
B. Municipalities that burn demolition debris at municipal solid waste disposal facilities.
3. Grants. The Department of Environmental Protection and the State Planning Office may, within available resources, award grants to eligible municipalities, regional associations, sanitary districts, sewer districts and nonprofit organizations to achieve the educational purposes of this section.
Effective September 21, 2001, unless otherwise indicated.
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