After years of planning, the Maine state government is seeking a contractor to run a program that aims to cut down on packaging waste, but its success will depend on how many municipalities participate. Towns and cities will need to opt in to the new program to be compensated for recycling packaging material as part of a larger effort to temper the rise of municipal trash — but some town leaders said they are hesitant to sign up because they believe the program’s rules will be too cumbersome.Maine was the first state to approve a stewardship program for packaging in 2021 to require large companies and manufacturers to help pay for the cost of recycling their packaging. Much of packaging is plastic, but any cardboard, metal, glass or paper material that packages a consumer good will fall under the program. The program isn’t operating yet but is expected to work as follows: Towns and cities that opt in will report to the state how many tons of packaging they recycle each year. They would then be eligible for reimbursement — funded by fees levied against companies that send disposable packaging to customers. How much a company will pay will vary based on the amount and type of packaging material it distributes.The Maine Department of Environmental Protection is looking for an organization to operate the program for 10 years. Its request for proposals, issued June 15, is several months behind schedule, pushing the timeline for municipalities to be reimbursed until at least the end of next year. Bids are due Aug. 3.