RWS Gives Away 6,791 Pumpkins to Area Schools to Promote Recycling, Composting

PORTLAND - Regional Waste Systems' annual "Great Pumpkin Giveaway" proved as popular as ever this fall as 6,791 pumpkins were provided to students at 30 area elementary schools in 14 communities.

Each year, RWS, a non-profit municipal solid waste and recycling organization owned and controlled by 27 towns in southern Maine, gives away pumpkins to schoolchildren in member communities as a way to promote composting and recycling education. Many of the pumpkins are grown on RWS land.

Participating schools also received informational flyers from RWS to help raise awareness about composting and recycling among students and their families.

Schools in Cape Elizabeth, Cumberland, Falmouth, Hiram, Limington, Yarmouth, Freeport, Gorham, Gray, Portland, Pownal, South Portland, Scarborough and Windham participated. Pumpkins also were provided to the Barbara Bush Children's Hospital at Maine Medical Center in Portland.

"We're pleased that so many kids were able to enjoy these pumpkins, and hope that along with the pumpkins they learned a little something about the benefits of composting and recycling waste," said Susan McGinty of Cumberland, chair of the RWS Recycling Committee. "It's important to make less trash and recycle and compost more at home, and where better to start than with the kids."

Visit the RWS website at www.regionalwaste.org/composting.html for more information on composting.

Regional Waste Systems is a non-profit solid waste management corporation that is owned and operated by 21 cities and towns (Bridgton, Cape Elizabeth, Casco, Cumberland, Falmouth, Freeport, Gorham, Gray, Harrison, Hollis, Limington, Lyman, North Yarmouth, Ogunquit, Portland, Pownal, Scarborough, South Portland, Waterboro, Windham and Yarmouth), and also has six associate member towns (Baldwin, Hiram, Naples, Parsonsfield, Porter and Standish.)

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 materials 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 communities. 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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