2025 East Greenwich Recycling Day RECAP

East Greenwich Recycling Day 2025 RECAP - News Release 5/12/25

May 12, 2025 - On a surprisingly beautiful May 3rd morning, 18 East Greenwich Rotarians welcomed 435 vehicles to the parking lots at New England Institute of Technology for the 5^th Annual East Greenwich Electronic-waste Recycling and Paper Shredding Day and Fundraiser.

Volunteers from The Autism Project in Johnston, RI, and The Wilderness Way Foundation worked "hand-to-hand" with the employees of "Office Recycling Solutions" and "Shred RI" to remove an estimated 16,000 pounds of e-waste (2 loaded trucks) and 12,648 pounds of paper that were shredded on-site!

Cars began congregating at the NEIT rotary on Division Road at 8:30am and were guided through the lanes and "stations" to unload e-waste, boxes of paper to be shredded, non-perishable food (a total of 4 boxes to be delivered to the RI Community Food Bank) and mobility equipment to be refurbished and given to the Shriners for free distribution to the needy.

Harry Waterman, Recycling Day Event Chairperson and an employee of one of the presenters, Cartridge World RI, was told by many drivers "how organized this event was! We only had to wait no more than 3 minutes, and never had to get out of the car as the volunteers removed everything from the car to the safety of the driver! Everybody was so nice and we heard "thank you for coming" so many times! Especially appreciative were the handed-out "Thank You" notes that stated the objective of Recycling Day and where the donations were going to go!" Another question that was asked was whether there will be another Recycling Day like this event be coming in the future? The answer is "yes" and will be on a Saturday, before Earth Day, April 22nd, 2026 or after.

As this is the 5^th Annual Recycling Day event hosted at New England Institute of Technology honoring Earth Day, the presenters: The Rotary Club of East Greenwich, The East Greenwich Chamber of Commerce, Cartridge World RI, Office Recycling Solutions and The InterAct Club of Rocky Hill Country Day School have amassed an estimated total of $20,000 plus an estimated $5000 of donations and sponsorships after expenses. Previous benefactors of the proceeds of the fundraiser include The East Greenwich Tree Council, The Greene Charter School in West Greenwich, The East Greenwich Park and Recreation Department (a park bench), and The Interfaith Food Cupboard at St. Luke's Episcopal Church. This year's recipients are The Wilderness Way Foundation, Jim Hopkins, Board Member, and The Autism Project (The Garden Program), Joanne Quinn, Executive Director. Any additional income from the event will be distributed to several organizations in need that the East Greenwich Rotary believes in as part of the East Greenwich Rotary Charitable Fund!

The East Greenwich Rotary Club would like to thank our sponsors for their ongoing support and the following businesses and individuals who sponsored the paper shredding truck and the printing of the 30 new "yard signs:" Bank Newport, ReMax Professionals, All-in-One SuperCenter. Harbor One Mortgage (George Cooper and Beverlee Fairbanks) and Vin Meola.