Red Shield Environmental in Old Town operates one of the half-dozen or so biomass boiler plants in Maine that cleanly burn construction and demolition wood scraps to produce energy, thereby eliminating the need to landfill these usable materials. Deriving the most benefit from these byproducts while doing the least possible harm to the environment is a great example of “recycle, reuse.”

Sadly, far fewer than 50 percent of Maine residents participate in recycling programs in their cities and towns, resulting in needless and senseless landfilling of an enormous volume of perfectly good, reusable material. As we’re all consumers of goods, we can either be part of this problem or become part of the solution.

We all must follow Red Shield’s example and redouble our efforts to recycle and reuse wherever and whenever possible to help protect our environment. This is truly the most effective way that we can greatly reduce the waste stream and thus lessen the need for more landfills in the future, while utilizing our planet’s limited resources more wisely.

Brian J. Carter

Orono