For Immediate Release
March 27, 2002

Contact:
Beryl Wolfe
(207) 775-5115
E-mail: beryl@wolfenews.com
Web Site: http://www.regionalwaste.org

PORTLAND, Maine - The deadline is approaching for high school seniors to enter an annual essay competition sponsored by the Recycling Committee of Regional Waste Systems, Inc., a non-profit municipal solid waste and recycling organization serving 27 cities and towns in southern Maine

The winner of the competition, open to students accepted or enrolled in a two- or four-year college, will receive a $1,000 scholarship to be used toward tuition, books or other college fees. Deadline for entries is April 15.

This year's essay topic involves the comic strip "Blondie" and asks students to answer a question about recycling and solid waste management. The RWS Recycling Committee obtained copyright permission from the comic strip for the contest, which asks students to: "Develop an argument or creatively express a viewpoint in which you take a position and address the cartoon's ironic commentary on the everyday waste management and recycling dilemma confronting these characters, and by implication, all of us."

High school seniors entering the competition must also show a history of academic excellence and community involvement. Materials will be evaluated and judged by the volunteer recycling committee, made up of RWS board members from member communities.

"We wanted to promote recycling among our younger populations," said Carol Fritz, chair of the RWS Recycling Committee. "And we thought an essay contest would be the best way to do that."

The essay competition rules and entry form can be found at the organization's web site,
www.regionalwaste.org. Essays are due by April 15, and may be submitted by high school seniors who are residents of any of the 27 cities and towns served by RWS. They are: Baldwin, Bridgton, Cape Elizabeth, Casco, Cumberland, Falmouth, Freeport, Gorham, Gray, Harrison, Hiram, Hollis, Limington, Lyman, Naples, North Yarmouth, Ogunquit, Parsonsfield, Porter, Portland, Pownal, Scarborough, South Portland, Standish, Waterboro, Windham, and Yarmouth.

Students may obtain and submit an application to: Recycling Essay Competition, Regional Waste Systems, Inc., 64 Blueberry Road, Portland, Maine 04102. For additional information, persons may call Missi Boothby at 773-6465. Applications may also be submitted by e-mail to rwssch@regionalwaste.org.

Regional Waste Systems, Inc. is a non-profit solid waste management corporation that is owned and controlled by 27 cities and towns. RWS has the largest, most comprehensive municipal recycling program in the state with more than 100 recycling bins in 60 locations throughout southern Maine. More than 16,000 tons of recycled material are processed each year. Established in 1974 after Portland, South Portland, Cape Elizabeth and Scarborough decided to form a cooperative to handle their waste disposal, RWS today is governed by a 28-member board, consisting of officials appointed from member towns. RWS accepts solid waste and recycled materials from these communities. For additional information on RWS, visit the RWS web site at www.regionalwaste.org.

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