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A Critical Safety Alert for Recycling Facilities Scrap metal recycling is an important source of revenue for many transfer stations, transforming discarded materials into valuable resources. However, these piles can also carry significant dangers if certain items are not properly identified and removed. Fires and explosions are a real threat, capable of causing extensive property damage, severe injuries, and even fatalities. To safeguard personnel and property, it's crucial for all recycling operators to be vigilant for the following items that can turn a routine scrap pile into a hefty fine or much worse! The Silent Threats...

Why Rigorous Inspection & Controlled Access are Best Practices for Scrap Metal Recycling Scrap metal diversion and recycling is a common component of nearly all transfer stations and recycling centers, transforming discarded materials into valuable resources and serving as an important source of revenue for many municipalities. However, scrap metal recycling also carries inherent risks, particularly the potential for fires, explosions, and injuries caused by hidden dangers such as batteries, fuels, and pressurized tanks. To mitigate these dangers, robust safety protocols, specifically two-stage inspection and controlled access for...

On May 19 & 20, nearly three-hundred attendees from across New England gathered at the Grappone Conference Center for the much-anticipated Recycling Conference & Expo. This year's conference provided attendees with an in-depth and highly informative experience, showcasing the evolving landscape of waste management and recycling. This vital annual gathering, known for its comprehensive workshops, vibrant exhibit hall, and ample networking opportunities, continued its tradition of fostering collaboration and advancing sustainable practices across the state. Attendees left with a wealth of information, new connections, and actionable...

The New Hampshire Solid Waste Working Group (SWWG) held its most recent meeting at the end of April. It was a particularly interesting for those trash nerds among us as John Culbertson, Vice President at MSW Consultants, gave a detailed presentation sharing the key results from NH's first ever Waste Characterization Study. The final report is expected to be issued in the coming weeks, so this was our first opportunity to review the findings. There are some important nuances to keep in mind as we reviewed the presentation. First, the study only looked at waste disposed of in NH that comes from NH, so it's important to keep in mind...

Last week, NRRA's Executive Director, Reagan Bissonnette, attended a tour of the newly upgraded compost facility at Windham Solid Waste Management District. The facility had met its permit capacity for composting and wanted to continue to expand their compost operation. Given their limited footprint, they implemented compost aeration and heat recovery systems to maximize space and labor efficiency. The operation is able take food waste from local businesses and schools, as well as certified compostable packaging, pet litter, soiled paper, and more. The aeration and heat recovery systems allow them the district to bring material to a...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Epsom, NH – The New Hampshire-based recycling nonprofit Northeast Resource Recovery Association’s (NRRA) Recycling Conference & Expo highlights new, engaging, and current recycling and solid waste management topics and practices that help transfer stations, recycling centers, and municipalities manage their recycling facilities in environmentally and economically sound ways. For over 40 years, the Recycling Conference has been the premier annual event focused exclusively on municipal recycling and waste reduction in New England. Held at the Grappone Conference Center in Concord, NH on Monday, May 19 and Tuesday...

NRRA's Recycling Conference highlights new, engaging, and current recycling and solid waste management topics and practices that help transfer stations, recycling centers, and municipalities manage their recycling facilities in environmentally and economically sound ways. The conference is a unique opportunity for hundreds of solid waste operators, volunteers, and residents to participate in workshops and meet experts in recycling, composting, municipal solid waste, and more. This year's conference is focused on specific recyclables, such as batteries, mattresses, used oil, plastics, and glass, while also taking a 30,000-foot-view...

The most recent NRRA Member Operations & Marketing meeting included a special presentation about the upcoming lithium-ion battery ban, presented by Tara Albert, the Solid Waste Operator Training & Certification Coordinator with the NHDES Waste Management Division. The ban goes into effect on July 1, 2025 and applies to everyone: residents, visitors, haulers, transfer stations, landfills, and waste-to-energy incinerators. Lithium-ion batteries are rechargeable batteries that, when damaged, can cause catastrophic fires and explosions, while expelling toxic gasses. The chemical reaction is called, "thermal runaway." It is a chain...