Rachel Pellis – Tackling an Unsustainable Waste Stream - Senator George J. Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions

UMaine Alert

Posted: April 19, 2024 - 1:32 PM

At approximately 9:24 a.m. on Friday, April 19, a University of Maine graduate student was struck by a university vehicle on Long Road at the University of Maine campus in Orono. The student reports that they are at a local hospital with minor injuries.

Emergency services, including the Orono Fire Department, University Volunteer Ambulance Corps, University of Maine Police Department, Orono Police Department and Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene.

The university vehicle involved in the incident was a Chevrolet Express van. It was being operated by a university employee.

Counseling services and support are available for students, faculty or staff who may have been affected. The Counseling Center can be reached at 207-581-1392 and the Dean of Students Office can be reached at 207-581-1406.

The scene has been cleared and Long Road is now accessible. An investigation is being conducted by the University of Maine Police Department with assistance from the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office Crash Reconstruction Unit. Any witnesses to the incident are encouraged to contact Lt. Noel Santiago at noel.santiago@maine.edu.

Rachel Pellis – Tackling an Unsustainable Waste Stream

Rachel Pellis Rachel is an undergraduate student at the University of Maine.

Why are you interested in the problem you are working on?

My family owns a catering business, and I’ve spent my life helping my parents package food to go to parties and sending bags of saran wrap and plastic quart containers to landfills. I’ve been interested in environmentalism since high school, but have always felt like a hypocrite because of how much plastic waste my own family’s livelihood produced. Reducing plastic waste from our food supply chain is a huge issue that most people outside of the industry are unaware of, and getting to study it at a higher level and work towards actually making a difference has been incredibly gratifying.

How could your work contribute to a sustainable future in Maine and beyond?

If restaurants were able to successfully switch to reusable take out containers then that would have a significant positive impact on Maine’s landfills and help to preserve Maine’s natural beauty.

What do you feel are the most important skills that you bring to your internship?

I’m grateful for this opportunity to work with such an amazing team who have taught me so much. I would say that I bring a new perspective as a younger student who is from a much more urban background. My experience in catering and small businesses also gives me a different perspective on what makes approaches successful.

What have you learned through your participation in this internship?

This internship has taught me career skills like how to lead workshops and interviews, how to present scientific information to large audiences, and how to communicate information from municipalities to the general public. In addition, I’ve also learned a lot about what happens to our trash once it leaves the garbage can, and how much effort it requires to ensure that that waste gets properly processed.

What are your personal goals for this internship? What do you hope to accomplish?

I want to help Jared Entwistle and Dr. Cindy Isenhour fulfill their goals with this project, and to learn as much as I can along the way! I think that it would be incredible if any of this research eventually resulted in long term reusable systems within Bar Harbor and South Portland to lead Maine in reusable containers.

How do you like to spend your free time/down time?

When I’m not studying, I like to sew, cook, and play with my dog, Shayna. I can usually be found in the dance studio practicing or at the Wilson Center engaging in multicultural dialogues and planning events for Hillel, the Jewish student life organization on campus.

What’s your ultimate Maine experience?

I’m pretty new to Maine, but my ultimate Maine experience has been performing as part of the dance team with the UMaine Marching Band. Go Black Bears!