When South Portland adopted One Climate Future in 2020, one focus of our waste reduction strategies was on the creation of circular economies. Today, the sustainability department is moving into the implementation phase and is excited about some forthcoming circular economy initiatives.

What is a circular economy?

The term circular economy isn’t often discussed in our everyday conversation. However, circular or sharing economies are so synonymous with our everyday lives today, you might not even recognize them. Circular, or sharing economies are communities or systems built around the sharing of resources.

The South Portland Electric Tool Library will allow residents to borrow electric lawn mowers, leaf blowers, string trimmers, hedge trimmers and edgers free of charge. Dan King photo

Think of them as a way to access the resources we might not own. South Portland has a long history of utilizing circular economies with a prime example being our public library. Circular economies also have benefits above and beyond the sharing and conservation of resources. They reduce waste, and help to create a sense of community as well as equitable access to resources that may have significant barriers to ownership, like vehicles or homes.

Our circular economy efforts involve fostering community spaces for sharing resources like neighborhood resource hubs, food forests, and community gardens. We’re also focusing on the recognition of organizations and businesses across the city championing circular economy practices while also initiating some of our own.

South Portland Electric Tool Library

The South Portland Sustainability Department is excited to announce the South Portland Electric Tool Library. The library will allow South Portland residents to borrow electric lawn mowers, leaf blowers, string trimmers, hedge trimmers, and edgers for use at home free of charge.

We plan to open the electric tool library on Saturday, June 3. We’ll be announcing more details as the South Portland Electric Tool Library takes shape over the coming weeks, so please stay tuned to our webpage for the most up-to-date information: southportland.org/departments/sustainability-office.

Coffee & Climate: Sharing Economy & Electric Tools

Join us Friday, April 14 from 10 to 11 a.m. for this month’s Coffee & Climate: Sharing Economy & Electric Tools. Brie Berry, an economic and environmental anthropologist and current assistant professor at Ursinus College, will join us to discuss Maine’s vibrant reuse economy and the environmental, social, and economic benefits that second-hand and sharing can contribute to our communities.

The South Portland office will also announce its soon-opening South Portland Electric Tool Library. Grab a cup of coffee and join us online for the event. Register online using theCoffee & Climate Zoom link.

Our Sustainable City is a recurring column in the Sentry intended to provide residents with news and information about sustainability initiatives in South Portland. Follow the Sustainability Office on Instagram @soposustainability.

Steve Genovese is an AmeriCorps/Greater Portland Council of Governments Resilience Corps fellow serving in the South Portland Sustainability Office through September 2023. He can be reached at sgenovese@southportland.org.