9304-R4_NewGloucester_2024-2025_AnnualReport_Web

ANNUAL REPORT Environmental Resources Committee

The Environmental Resources Committee meets the first Thursday of the month at 5:30 pm. Ongoing projects of the ERC included: • Apparel Impact Bin at the transfer station, as of January 22 (when the bin was installed at the transfer station) has diverted 32,609 lbs. of clothes and textiles that would otherwise end up in a landfill or burn facility. For the town’s fiscal year (July 2024 – June 2025), the transfer station diverted a total of 6,762.00 lbs. • ERC again offered a no cost opportunity to community members to learn about the process of starting native perennial plants in pots during the winter months. Participants went home with 4-5 pots of various flowering plants ready to be overwintered in their yards. All materials were provided by ERC and a donation of potting soil from Cook’s Ace Hardware in Gray. • A septic system was installed at the Fairgrounds in the same place that housed plants maintained by ERC. ERC members marked which plants to move to a new location at the Fairgrounds. Come Spring 2026, those plants will be replanted along with new plants in their new location. • Our 2025 topic at the 2025 Community Fair was “Maine Pollinators” where we shared information about pollinators in Maine and hosted several kid friendly activities including a word search, scavenger hunt, and a coloring sheet to emphasize the importance of pollinators. We had another free raffle for a lobster trap composter. • Our Annual Seed giveaway was once again held in conjunction with the Friends of the New Gloucester Public Library book sale. We continued to offer the Pine Tree packaged seeds. Seeds are available all season at the public library. • In an effort to connect with the community, we created a list of topics relevant to our mission and continued to submit occasional stories regarding recycling practices, Earth Day 2025, local solutions for pollinators, joining the ERC, and joining the new Adhoc Scenic Assessment Committee.

48