Edra Long, administrative assistant for the Windham public works department, was honored for her contributions to recycling with the 2007 eco-Excellence Award given annually by ecomaine, a nonprofit organization owned and operated by 21 municipalities in southern Maine.

Long was nominated by the Town Manager Anthony Plante, who said Long “has been instrumental in keeping Windham’s recycling program working and growing through the years.”

The recycling program in the town of Windham was not part of Edra’s job description, but is one she gradually and voluntarily absorbed. In the early stages she handled the silver bullet program, which involved monitoring, cleanup and placement/location. After that she evolved into sales and invoicing. That was soon followed by the responsibility of ordering Windham trash bags and recycling bins.

To better serve the residents of Windham, she started subscribing to and reading all the recycling magazines she could find.

“In all honesty,” she noted, “I questioned my sanity!” Edra explained, “In no time at all, every trash and recycle question was passed off to me.” She added, “The Deputy Director, with whom I share an office, calls me the “Master of Trashology.”

Edra is now trying to budget monies for compost bins. She sees it as the beginning of an alternative way for Windham residents to dispose of their kitchen refuse.

A luncheon was held to honor the winners from all participating municipalities, and each was awarded a framed certificate and soft fleece jacket made from recycled plastic bottles.