For Immediate Release
October 27, 1999

Contact:
Beryl Wolfe
(207) 775-5115
Web Site: http://www.regionalwaste.com

Residents in communities served by Regional Waste Systems, Inc., will have a final opportunity this Saturday to take advantage of a free service to dispose of household hazardous materials such as oil-based paints, insecticides and gasoline.

RWS-sponsored collections are scheduled on Saturday, October 30, in South Portland at the Cash Corner Fire Station (corner of Route 1 and Rumry Road) and in Lyman at the Lyman Transfer Station (South Waterboro Road, off Route 35). Materials will be collected from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at both locations.

Residents who attend the South Portland collection may experience a wait as turnout has been heavy at many of the previous collections held throughout the summer. The program began in May and ends this weekend. More than 30 collections were held in towns from Phippsburg to Ogunquit.

The collections in South Portland and Lyman are open to residents in any of the 31 towns
served by RWS, including: Baldwin, Bridgton, Cape Elizabeth, Casco, Cumberland, Durham, Falmouth, Freeport, Gorham, Gray, Harrison, Hiram, Hollis, Limington, Naples, North Yarmouth, Ogunquit, Parsonsfield, Phippsburg, Porter, Portland, Pownal, Scarborough, Sebago, Standish, Waterboro, Westbrook, Windham and Yarmouth.

South Portland residents with questions are asked to call the South Portland Fire Department at 799-3311. Lyman residents may inquire at the Lyman Town Office at 499-2925.
A schedule of collections also is posted on the RWS web site at www.regionalwaste.com.

Residents can pack their household hazardous waste in boxes, no plastic bags, and bring the material to the collection site. The collection will be set up as a drive-thru so residents will not need to leave their vehicles. Household hazardous waste is any material in the home with at least one of the following characteristics: ignitable, corrosive, toxic or reactive. Products and materials classified as hazardous waste, contained in almost all homes, should not be disposed of with other trash.

Clean Harbors, an environmental services company with offices in South Portland, is handling the household hazardous waste collection effort for RWS.

WHAT TO BRING:
Oil-based paints Stains and varnishes
Thinners, solvents and strippers Wood preservatives
Adhesive glues and resins Engine degreasers
Waste petroleum products: gasoline, kerosene, motor oil Hobby and photo supplies
Brake fluid, transmission fluid and antifreeze Chemistry sets
Poisons, insecticides, weed killers and herbicides Photo developing chemicals
Swimming pool chemicals Batteries: car, dry cell, button
Flourescent light bulbs Asbestos (wetted and double bagged)

WHAT NOT TO BRING:
Medical waste, prescription medicine or syringes Commercial waste
Unknown materials Infectious and biological waste
Radioactive waste Smoke detectors
Pressurized fire extinguishers Propane and other gas compressed
Electrical equipment cylinders
Explosives: ammunition and fireworks

Regional Waste Systems, Inc. is a non-profit solid waste management company that serves 21 owner communities and also serves 10 associate members in southern Maine. It is governed by a 28-member board and is owned and controlled by its member municipalities. The waste transported to the facility located on outer Congress Street in Portland is incinerated to create electricity, which is then sold to Central Maine Power. RWS also has an extensive recycling program, with more than 85 drop off recycling containers set up in more than 60 locations, the largest municipal program in the state.

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