Over the summer, the Town embarked on a new recycling outreach program where interns were hired to check recycling carts on our Tuesday collection route. For eight weeks between June and August, the interns lifted lids on recycling carts to make sure they only contained items that could be recycled. Carts were then marked with a colored tag based on what they contained:

-         GREEN tags meant you're doing a great job recycling!

-         YELLOW  tags meant the cart contained a few items that were not recyclable.

-         RED  tags meant the cart contained too many items that are not recyclable and were not picked up that week.

During the outreach program, we were happy to see recycling habits improve! The number of carts tagged with green tags increased from 52% at the beginning of the program to 84% at the end of the program, and the number of carts tagged with yellow tags decreased from 42% to 10%. Carts tagged with red tags stayed about the same throughout the eight-week program.

Data from ecomaine also showed better recycling habits. The amount contamination, or items in recycling carts that can't be recycled, decreased from 26% before the program to 19% at the end of the program. Ecomaine rejects recycling loads that have more than 26% contamination. Rejected recycling loads are processed like trash and cost the Town a lot more than clean recycling loads. In July and August 2018, ecomaine rejected 67 of our recycling loads because they contained too many items that could not be recycled. In July and August 2019, only 10 of our recycling loads were rejected.

This fall's local ballot contains a referendum question asking Scarborough voters if they are in favor of authorizing up to $660,000 in bonds to fund the cost of a new fire truck. It wouldn't be appropriate for me to advocate for citizens to vote a certain way, however it is my duty to provide as much accurate information as possible so that the electorate can make an informed decision when they cast their ballot.

There are three primary reasons that drive the replacement of fire apparatus. The first is a broad category of condition which factors the age, shape and reliability of the truck. The second is the cost of maintenance which generally increases with age, usage, and availability of replacement parts. The third is safety which, as with any other vehicle or mechanical device, is affected by age and use.

The Fire Department has a formal apparatus replacement plan that was first established in the 1940's. In 2019 that plan was updated to reflect current demands on our department's apparatus, and addresses changes required in part by the use of corrosive chemicals to promote rapid ice melt on our roads. The updated replacement plan analyzed ongoing maintenance expenses with cost of ownership including purchase price, replacement cost, and projected resale value. It references the consensus standards from the National Fire Protection Association that govern the design, maintenance, and replacement of fire apparatus. The replacement plan is a proactive planning tool to forecast expenditures for capital items well in advance in an attempt to avoid reactive, unplanned expenses after a failure of a critical piece of apparatus mid-budget. The fire department's replacement plan is considered along with those from police, public works, and other departments as the Town Manager prepares the annual capital improvement budget requests to balance the capital needs of all departments in town.

Halloween is an exciting time of the year for kids, with Halloween falling on Thursday, October 31. Scarborough Community Services  wanted to pass along some tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

• See and be seen! Reflective tap, flashlights and glow sticks make children visible to drivers and each other.
• Masks and costumes should never block a child's vision.
• Use the buddy system, children should trick or treat in groups, not alone.
• Remind children to wait until home to eat candy.
• If your older children are going alone, plan and review the route that is acceptable to you. Agree on a specific time when they should return home.

Scarborough Community Services wishes everyone a safe and fun Halloween!