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Membership Dues Update for the 2026 Dues Year NH Recycles extends its sincere appreciation to all municipal members for their continued support and partnership. Your membership plays a vital role in strengthening recycling programs, connecting communities to markets, and advancing sound recycling solutions throughout New Hampshire and New England. As part of NH Recycles’ ongoing commitment to maintaining financial stability and delivering high-quality member services, the Board of Trustees has approved an update to membership dues for the 2026 dues year. For most municipal members, the new dues year begins April 1, 2026; for others...

The September meeting of the Solid Waste Working Group (SWWG) focused on plastics recycling policy, updates from the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES), and solid waste-related legislation expected in the upcoming session. Plastics EPR Spotlight The meeting featured guest speaker Megan Daum, Vice President of Sustainability for the American Beverage Association (ABA). Representing the U.S. non-alcoholic beverage industry, Daum spoke about the Association’s support for thoughtful extended producer responsibility (EPR) laws designed to increase beverage container recycling rates. Under the ABA’s preferred model...

On Wednesday, September 24, NH Recycles brought 50 New Hampshire solid waste and recycling operators on a tour of the Casella-run Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) in Rutland, Vermont. The trip gave participants a rare chance to see what happens to recyclables once they leave their communities and to deepen their understanding of how large-scale recycling operations function. To ensure accessibility, NH Recycles organized transportation from both southern and northern parts of the state. A large bus departed from the NH Recycles office, while a smaller bus left from The Rocks in Bethlehem so North Country operators could avoid an...

The Northumberland Recycle Right Rewards Event on September 2, 2025, was a great success, bringing out residents eager to talk trash—and treasure! The NH Recycles Member Services team of Brian Patnoe, Member Services Director, and Steve Bean, Municipal Recycling Advisor, spent about three and a half hours engaging with the community, answering pressing questions about recycling, and, most excitingly, rewarding people for recycling right by handing out free totes and local area gift cards. Key Takeaways from the Day The event provided valuable insight into what’s on the minds of Northumberland residents when it comes to recycling...

This year, NH Recycles is thrilled to celebrate a remarkable milestone: Paula Dow's 35th work anniversary. As the Finance and HR Director, Paula has been an unwavering force for the organization, a testament to her dedication and passion. Over her 35-year tenure, she's not just held a job—she's been the backbone of a mission she deeply believes in. Her commitment is truly impressive, as she has been with NH Recycles for 35 of its 44 years, representing an astonishing 80% of the organization's history. According to NH Recycles' Executive Director, Reagan Bissonnette, Paula's work perfectly embodies the organization's core values. NH...

We've got some great news to share about our scrap metal recycling program, and it's all thanks to you. Your hard work and commitment have made a huge difference, and we're seeing some amazing results. When we introduced the new two-stage separation process on June 9 to many of our members, we knew it would be a big undertaking. We asked you to take extra time to sort and inspect materials, and you stepped up to the challenge. The results speak for themselves. In the eight months before we made this change, we had 79 prohibited items show up in scrap metal loads. But after implementing the new process, that number dropped to only...

NH Recycles would like to extend its deepest gratitude to three distinguished members of our Board of Trustees who are concluding their dedicated service: John Hurd, Brian Bartram, and Roger Guzowski. Their collective expertise, unwavering commitment, and invaluable leadership have been instrumental in shaping our organization and advancing our mission over the years. John Hurd: A Champion of Rural Recycling Since joining the board in 2007, John Hurd has been a steadfast advocate for cost-effective recycling in rural areas. As the Solid Waste Manager for the Londonderry Solid Waste Group in Vermont, John's extensive experience has...

The NH Recycles Member Services team of Brian Patnoe, Member Services Director, and Steve Bean, Municipal Recycling Advisor, recently spent four hours at the Lancaster Transfer Station. Their goal? To connect with residents and help them with their recycling efforts. Armed with information and a few surprises, they made the day a little brighter for everyone who stopped by. Educating and Rewarding the Community Brian and Steve weren't just there to answer recycling questions - they also came prepared with rewards for those who were "recycling right". They handed out free recycling bins and gift cards worth $50 each from three local...

The Littleton Transfer Station buzzed with an extra dose of positive energy on a recent Tuesday, as two NH Recycles representatives hosted a "Recycle Rights Rewards" event aimed at "catching" residents in the act of recycling correctly and rewarding them for their efforts. The initiative - part of the ongoing Recycle Right North Country campaign - and designed to educate and incentivize proper recycling behavior, was met with a mix of surprise, gratitude, and a healthy dose of curiosity from local residents. NH Recycles' Member Services Director, Brian Patnoe, and Municipal Recycling Advisor, Steve Bean, initially set up a table...

In 2024, NH Recycles was invited to participate in the creation of the Wasted Food Brief for the 2025 NH Food and Agriculture Strategic Plan, published earlier this year. Andrea Folsom, NH Recycles' Education & Grants Manager, served as the brief's lead author, and Reagan Bissonnette, NH Recycles' Executive Director, served as one of the brief's subject matter expert and contributing author. The other subject matter experts included Allison Bussiere , Food Systems Coordinator of Gather ; Cherry Sullivan, Director of Programs for Willing Hands ; and Paige Wilson , Waste Reduction & Diversion Planner for the NH Department of...