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On a recent visit to Coös County, Steve Bean, NH Recycles' Municipal Recycling Advisor, witnessed firsthand how small, rural communities are making a big difference in recycling by working together. His site visit tour highlighted a strong network of transfer stations and a central recycling hub that helps to streamline the recycling process for several towns. Steve's first stop was the Colebrook Transfer Station, managed by Dave Bunnel. The facility collects a wide range of recyclables, including cardboard, mixed paper, plastics (#1 PETE, #2 natural, #2 mixed color), and steel and aluminum cans. Instead of processing these...

The NH Recycles 2025 Fall Bus Tour has been announced: this year's bus will be traveling to Rutland, VT to tour the Rutland County SWD Material Recovery Facility (MRF)! For years, NH Recycles' Members have requested a MRF tour, but because there are no MRFs in New Hampshire, getting to one is no small feat. For that reason, this year's tour will only have one stop and one BIG tour - the MRF. We will get to see how material comes in, the different ways it gets sorted, and how it's managed and sent to end markets. If you are an operator who works in a community that has single stream recycling, this will be a great opportunity to get...

The 2025 legislative session, which included a new 2-year budget for the state of New Hampshire, is now complete and several bills that passed the House and Senate have been signed into law. We wanted to take a moment to update our members on some important policy and legislative updates that will affect all New Hampshire recycling centers and transfer stations. For ongoing updates on legislative sessions, please refer to our Policy and Legislation Page. 2025 Legislative Updates HB 2 (related to the state budget) passed, which included changes to eliminate the ability of organizations to nominate representatives to the NHDES waste...

The past couple of weeks have been very busy for NH Recycles' Education & Grants Manager, Andrea Folsom, and Municipal Recycling Advisor, Steve Bean, as they have been criss-crossing New Hampshire with a small video recording crew creating three (or possibly more) recycling videos for the Recycle Right North Country campaign . The three videos will follow select recyclables - aluminum cans, glass bottles, and cardboard boxes - from the transfer station on their recycling journey. All three recyclables begin the process at transfer stations in northern New Hampshire and then travel - some farther than others - as they turn into new...

As of July 1st, it is illegal for anyone in New Hampshire - resident, business, hauler, or transfer station (just to name a few) - to throw lithium-ion batteries into the waste stream to end up in a landfill or waste-to-energy incinerator. In accordance with RSA 149-M:27: "No person shall dispose of any wet-cell batteries, lithium-ion batteries, or electronic devices in any solid waste landfill facility or incinerator in New Hampshire." While transfer stations were already diverting and recycling wet-cell batteries (like car batteries) and electronics , diverting lithium-ion batteries is a newer request...but an important one...

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...