Recycling Centers in Maine: 160 Locations

Recycling in Maine

Maine lists 160 recycling centers across 107 cities — the widest city spread of any state in this directory — reflecting Maine's many small towns, each responsible for providing residents with recycling access under state law. The Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) administers solid waste and recycling under Title 38 of the Maine Revised Statutes. State law requires all municipalities to provide a collection site or event for recyclables. Maine achieved a 42% solid waste diversion rate in 2023 according to DEP, the highest in New England. Maine has operated a beverage container redemption program since 1978; it covers more than 90% of beverage containers sold in the state, with a 5-cent deposit on most containers and a 15-cent deposit on spirits and wine above 50 mL.

Recycling resources are spread across Maine's many communities. The largest hubs are Lewiston and Portland (5 centers each), followed by Augusta, Auburn, Waterville, and South Portland (4 each), with Bangor and Holden rounding out the top tier at 3 each. This distribution across 107 cities reflects Maine's rural and small-town character, where transfer stations and municipal drop-off sites are the primary recycling infrastructure.

Maine bans electronic waste from landfill disposal and incineration: it is illegal to throw away cathode ray tubes and LCD screens, and manufacturers are required to fund and provide free take-back recycling for covered devices including televisions, computers, monitors, laptops, tablets, game consoles, printers, and portable DVD players. Maine also restricts yard waste disposal and bans the landfilling of mercury-added devices such as thermostats and fluorescent lamps. Maine's bottle bill redemption rate was approximately 74% in 2024 (by updated DEP calculation methodology), with over 37,000 tons of beverage containers recycled through the program that year.

Top Cities by Number of Centers

Lewiston 5 Portland 5 Auburn 4 Augusta 4 South Portland 4 Waterville 4 Bangor 3 Dover Foxcroft 3

All Cities in Maine

Anson 1 center Auburn 4 centers Augusta 4 centers Bangor 3 centers Bath 1 center Belfast 2 centers Berwick 1 center Bethel 1 center Biddeford 2 centers Bingham 1 center Bowdoinham 1 center Bradley 1 center Brewer 2 centers Bridgton 2 centers Broadway South Portland 1 center Brunswick 1 center Bucksport 1 center Calais 1 center Camden 1 center Caribou 1 center Carmel 1 center China 2 centers Corinth 1 center Damariscotta 1 center Dexter 2 centers Dover Foxcroft 3 centers Dresden 1 center Ellsworth 1 center Exeter Rd Exeter 1 center Fairfield 1 center Falmouth 1 center Farmington 2 centers Frankfort 1 center Freeport 2 centers Fryeburg 1 center Gardiner 1 center Greenville 2 centers Hallowell 2 centers Hampden 2 centers Harpswell 1 center Hartland 1 center Hermon 2 centers Holden 3 centers Houlton 1 center Howland 1 center Hudson 1 center Industry Rd Starks 1 center Jay 1 center Jefferson 1 center Kingfield 1 center Lamoine 1 center Lewiston 5 centers Lincoln 1 center Lisbon Falls 3 centers Livermore Falls 1 center Lubec 1 center Milford 1 center Monmouth 1 center Newport 3 centers Norridgewock 2 centers Oakland 1 center Old Town 3 centers Orland 1 center Orrington 1 center Palermo 1 center Palmyra 1 center Parkman 1 center Patten 1 center Pittsfield 2 centers Portland 5 centers Presque Isle 1 center Raymond 1 center Readfield 1 center Rockland 1 center Rumford 1 center Sangerville 1 center Scarborough 1 center Searsmont 1 center Searsport 1 center Sedgwick 1 center Skowhegan 2 centers Solon 1 center Sorrento 1 center South Paris 1 center South Portland 4 centers Southwest Harbor 1 center Steuben 1 center Thomaston 3 centers Thorndike 1 center Topsham 1 center Troy 1 center Turner 2 centers Union 2 centers Vassalboro 1 center Warren 1 center Washington 1 center Waterville 4 centers West Bath 1 center West Paris 1 center Westbrook 1 center Whitefield 1 center Wilton 1 center Windham 1 center Winslow 1 center Winterport 1 center Winthrop 1 center Yarmouth 3 centers

Recycling in Maine — FAQ

How does Maine's bottle deposit program work?

Maine's Returnable Beverage Container program, in effect since 1978, charges a 5-cent deposit on beer, hard cider, wine coolers, soda, and water containers, and a 15-cent deposit on spirits and wine containers above 50 mL. Nearly all beverage containers are covered except dairy, unprocessed cider, and certain Maine-produced juices. Containers can be returned to stores or redemption centers. DEP reported over 37,000 tons recycled through the program in 2024.

Does Maine require municipalities to offer recycling?

Yes. Maine state law requires all municipalities to provide residents with a collection site or event for recyclables and for covered electronic devices. This mandate, administered by the Maine DEP, is one reason the directory lists recycling resources in 107 Maine cities — even very small towns typically have at least a transfer station or drop-off point.

What electronics cannot be thrown away in Maine?

Maine bans the disposal of cathode ray tubes (CRTs), LCD screens, and a broad range of other covered electronic devices in landfills and incinerators. Covered items include televisions, desktop and laptop computers, monitors, tablets, e-readers, game consoles, printers, and portable DVD players. Manufacturers fund and must provide free take-back recycling at municipal collection sites statewide.

Where are the most recycling centers in Maine?

Lewiston and Portland each have 5 listed centers, followed by Augusta, Auburn, Waterville, and South Portland with 4 each, and Bangor and Holden with 3 each. Maine's 160 centers are spread across 107 cities, a reflection of the state's mandatory municipal recycling requirements and rural geography.