Maine
State Overview
Maine’s Act to Support and Improve Municipal Recycling Programs (LD 1541) was signed into law in July 2021. The program, administered by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, uses a stewardship-based model where producers reimburse municipalities for recycling, waste management, related infrastructure, and consumer education costs. Drivers behind the legislation included rising costs for municipalities and lack of landfill space.
Producer Compliance
Interchange 360 is applying to operate as an Alternative Collection Program (ACP) in Maine. Once approved, this will provide a compliance pathway for petroleum and lubricant packaging. The state is expected to release additional details on the ACP program by Fall of 2026 which will inform the next steps for Interchange 360. In the meantime, producers can register by completing Interchange 360’s Maine Participation Agreement, creating an account in The Vault, and uploading the Agreement. Once the account is created, producers can begin filing reports and remitting fees.
Maine Base Fees
Program operations in Maine are funded by producer fees managed by Interchange 360 as a nonprofit organization. The fees are based on the estimated cost to operate the program and the amount of material being sold into the state. Each individual producer’s fees are based on the volume of covered materials it sells into the state. Producers are responsible for paying back to the start date of planning fees regardless of their join date. To learn more about fees, visit our Producer Fees/Dues page.
| EPR Law Passed | Planning Fee Dates | Planning Fees | Implementation Fee Start Date | Implementation Fees |
| 2021 | July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2027 | $0.14/gal | July 1, 2027 | TBD |
Notice of Fee Changes – July 2026
Producer Road to Compliance
Complete the following steps to make sure your company is fully complying with the law.
Interchange 360 Mile Markers
Key Resources
Background Documents
September 4, 2025 – Letter to Maine DEP re: intent to submit an Alternative Collection Plan (ACP)
Board of Environmental Protection’s Rulemaking page
Maine News
- Maine ACP Public Consultation Period Concludes After Extensive Outreach
As Maine advances its Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) law for packaging , Interchange 360 is preparing to apply for an Alternative Collection Program (ACP). The intended product scope of the… Read more: Maine ACP Public Consultation Period Concludes After Extensive Outreach - Maine Alternative Collection Program Public ForumInterchange 360 will be hosting a public forum on its draft Alternative Collection Program (ACP) in Maine for interestested parties on Wednesday, May 6, 2026,… Read more: Maine Alternative Collection Program Public Forum
- Why Lubricant Packaging Needs its Own EPR Pathway
In this article in Waste Advantage, CEO David Lawes outlines why lubricant packaging needs a sector-specific EPR pathway. - Producer Q&A: Part 1
This entry is the first in a series where the Interchange 360 team answers some of the most frequently asked questions. Have a question of… Read more: Producer Q&A: Part 1
Contact
If you have questions or comments, or would like to arrange a meeting, please reach out to Member Services.