RWS Gives Away 300 Digital Thermometers

Area residents trade in their mercury ones

PORTLAND, Maine (Nov. 6) - About 300 area residents participated in the Mercury Hazardous Waste Collection Day, where Regional Waste Systems handed out free digital thermometers in exchange for mercury thermometers. The November 4event was sponsored by the Portland Water District.

The program was aimed at helping reduce the amount of mercury-containing waste that enters the RWS system, according to RWS Environmental Manager Mark Arienti. "It was great that so many people came out, and we plan to do more of this kind of mercury exchange to continue to get these items out of the waste stream."

"Products made with mercury, including thermometers, button batteries, fluorescent lights and thermostats, continue to be an issue in terms of hazardous waste," Arienti said. "We've always felt that there should be a ban on these products or a manufacturer take-back program to prevent improper disposal. Until then, we will continue to discourage their use but also encourage that these items are recycled or properly disposed of, as was done at the event on Saturday."

Regional Waste Systems plans to hold another collection day in the future, and will alert the public via its web site at www.regionalwaste.com and through the news media.

"In the meantime, we ask people to please not throw these products in the regular trash as they are harmful to the environment," Arienti added.

Regional Waste Systems, Inc. is a non-profit solid waste management corporation that is owned and controlled by 21 cities and towns, and also has six associate member towns. RWS is also the largest municipal recycling organization in the state. Established in 1974 after Portland, South Portland, Cape Elizabeth and Scarborough decided to form a cooperative to handle their waste disposal, today RWS is governed by a 28-member board, consisting of officials appointed from member towns. RWS accepts solid waste and recycled materials from these communities and also has a comprehensive, state-of-the-art recycling program with more than 100 recycling bins in 60 locations. For additional information on RWS, visit the RWS web site, www.regionalwaste.com.

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