Call To Action

Get Involved in Sustainability In South Portland

1. Volunteer

Build connections with your neighbors. This will help our community better prepare for and respond to climate impacts and other emergencies. 

2. Join a Committee

Join a city committee to have a direct community impact on local initiatives. Check out open positions and learn more about how to apply here. 

  • Waste Reduction Committee

  • Bicycle- Pedestrian Committee

  • Conservation Committee


3. Discover Local, Community Events

Get involved and stay up to date with city events through our community E-Newsletter, events calendar, library calendar, and Sustainability Department Instagram.


4. Attend City Council Meetings

Civic engagement is one way to ensure that your voice is heard on policy matters that affect South Portland.  You can attend city council meetings in person (or watch remotely) every Tuesday at 6:30 pm. The agendas are posted on the Friday before. Participate in public comment, or simply attend and listen to stay updated with the city’s policies. 


5. Follow the Latest Sustainability News and Developments

Sign up for our One Climate Future newsletter to learn about our monthly Coffee & Climate discussions and stay updated with the city of Portland and South Portland’s joint climate action plan progress. Sign up for our South Portland Sustainability Department email list for periodic updates and important information about Sustainability programs and initiatives.

Top 8 Ways To Be Sustainable In South Portland

1. Buy Less, Toss Less, Swap More 

Next time you find yourself searching for  a household item or looking to donate, head to the Swap Shop before buying something new or throwing it away. Have a broken item? Save it for our second annual city-wide Repair Fair in January. 

2. Check out our Electric Tool Library

Did you know that just one hour of gas-powered leaf blower use is equivalent to driving over 1,000 miles? You don’t need to buy your own electric tools to make the switch from gas to electric. Borrow electric landcare equipment from the South Portland Electric Tool Library (SPETL)for up to a week at a time for FREE using your South Portland library card. 


3. Use Your Food Waste for Good 

What a waste to throw food scraps down the disposal or in the trash. We offer three ways for you to recycle your food waste into clean electricity and rich, organic compost: 

1) Pick up a free bin from Public Works and simply drop off your food waste at one of the six sites around the city for FREE. 

2) With your city bin, you can get a reduced-cost curbside collection from Garbage to Garden. Call them directly to set up service.

3) Utilize Garbage to Garden’s private service for curbside pick up. 


4. Become a Master Recycler or Be the Smartest Recycler on the Block 

Take a tour of  Ecomaine to learn exactly how our recycling gets separated from trash and processed. If you have too much recycling to fit in your bin, drop it off at the Transfer Station (next to the Swap Shop!). When in doubt, download Ecomaine’s Recyclopedia app to answer all of your recycling questions. 


5. Create a More Sustainable Landscape 

Resilient landscapes benefit soil health, water quality, attract pollinators, and build robust ecosystems. Get involved in our Resilient Yards Program, which pairs volunteer coaches with local residents to help you begin to transform your yard into a resilient landscape. 


6. Electrify Your Home and Reduce Your Energy Use 

Efficiency Maine can guide you through energy-saving rebate and incentive programs to weatherize your home and electrify your appliances, like  a heat pump water heater. Replace your boiler with air source heat pumps, which are super efficient even in cold climates and provide cooling in the summer. WindowDressers brings volunteers together to improve the warmth and comfort of homes, lower heating costs, and reduce CO2 emissions by producing low-cost window inserts. 


7. Get Plugged in to Low-Carbon, Emissions-Free Driving

We’re bringing more chargers to South Portland. Have an electric vehicle but don’t know where to charge it on the go? Plan out where you can charge an EV in South Portland using the Plug Share App.


8.  Go Car Free   

South Portland has a great network of multiuse trails, including a new neighborhood byway that will offer a safe route to the middle school.  E-bikes are a great way to commute or travel with ease and flexibility. Metro provides local fixed route service throughout Portland, South Portland, Westbrook, and Falmouth, and offers bike racks.