More than sixty members, municipal leaders, operators, and partners gathered at the Puritan Conference Center on November 17th for the 2025 NH Recycles Annual Meeting—and the room was buzzing long before the program began. Executive Director Reagan Bissonnette welcomed attendees as they grabbed lunch, caught up with colleagues, and settled in for an afternoon full of reflections, insights, and celebration. Reagan shared:
“This meeting gives us a chance to pause in what I know has been a very busy year for so many of us, and take time to reflect on our work together and celebrate our successes.”
A New Name, Same Commitment
Reagan kicked things off with one of the year’s biggest milestones: the organization’s name change to NH Recycles, approved in May after a year-long process with members and the Board. While the name is new, she emphasized that the mission remains unchanged—partnering with communities to make recycling strong through economic and environmentally sound solutions.
NH Recycles now serves more than 440 members across New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. In New Hampshire alone, 90% of municipalities are members, underscoring the organization’s deep roots and continued regional impact.
Despite a tough year of staffing shortages, tight budgets, and downturns in recycling markets, Reagan noted that membership dues have remained steady for the past three years—one of many ways the organization supports municipal partners. Additionally, the cooperative marketing program remains one of the most powerful member benefits. In the past fiscal year alone, municipal partners recycled 76.9 million pounds of material, generating $2.6 million in revenue returned directly to members.
Strong Organizational Strength and Board Leadership
Board President Joan Cudworth reflected on her long involvement with NH Recycles and highlighted the board’s work on governance updates, membership dues analysis, conference planning, and capital improvements. She spoke about why she continues to volunteer:
“I value what the organization can do to help you with recycling—and how they care and take the time to help when you need it most.”
Treasurer Mark Richardson also delivered good news. NH Recycles entered the year with $48,361 on hand, surpassed its $100,000 capital reserve goal, and is now halfway toward building a six-month operating reserve—a major financial milestone for the organization. “We’re in good shape,” he assured the room.
Major Educational Impact Through EPA Grant Work
Education & Grants Manager Andrea Folsom shared updates from the second year of the EPA-funded Recycle Right North Country initiative, a three-year project focused on rural recycling education and outreach.
It’s been a huge year for education and outreach in the North Country. Highlights included:
- 956 people attended 57 events across northern New Hampshire
- Two bus tours and a successful Recycle Right Summit in October
- Three professional radio ads aired 639 times across five stations covering the North Country
- Three newly-created recycling process videos were viewed in their entirety 29,511 times and seen 126,000 times by over 64,000 people on social media
To give attendees a firsthand look, she screened one of the new videos showing exactly what happens to aluminum cans after they leave local transfer stations.
Andrea also proudly shared that NH Recycles earned the 2025 NERC Environmental Leadership Award for Outstanding Program for its composting and food waste diversion work.
Vendors Share What Really Happens to Recyclables
One of the most popular parts of the afternoon was the Vendor Panel, moderated by Member Services Director Brian Patnoe.
The panel featured:
(Fibers) David Piragis, General Manager, Greif Packaging LLC
(Plastics) Marty Oxman, Account Executive, BlackBridge Investments
(Glass) Murray Cruickshank, President & CEO, Rayan Investments
The conversation covered everything from mill closures and contamination challenges to new technologies, chemical recycling, and ocean plastics. Panelists broke down:
- How
cardboard, plastics, and glass are processed
- Challenges in fiber markets due to mill closures
- Opportunities in robotics, optical sorting, and chemical recycling
- Why contamination - especially ceramics and Pyrex in glass - is so damaging
- Whether black plastic has a path forward
- How cartons (Tetra Paks) and other wet-strength materials behave in paper mills
- What actually gets recycled domestically versus overseas
- How extended producer responsibility (EPR) policies could shape the market
- Tips for municipalities: build full loads, maintain clean bales, expand loading windows, and increase resident participation
Panelists traveled from out of state—and in Murray's case, out of the country—to participate. They brought humor, candor, and plenty of real-world insight, making it clear why operators and towns value direct access to end markets.
Celebrating Outstanding Contributions to Recycling
The meeting closed with NH Recycles’ annual awards, recognizing individuals and organizations making exceptional contributions.
Honorary Lifetime Member
This recognition provides associate membership to NH Recycles free of charge to retired board and staff members who have been admitted to the NH Recycles Hall of Fame for ten years of service to NH Recycles.
Bonnie Bethune retired from NH Recycles in early April after nearly 22 years at NH Recycles and a lifetime in the recycling industry. Bonnie’s passion for recycling began with a roadside cleanup on Earth Day on April 22, 1970. Later she worked at the Wilton and New Boston Recycling Centers before joining NH Recycles as part of our member services team. In 2023, Bonnie received NH Recycles’ Recycler of the Year award in recognition of her extensive contributions to municipal recycling.
Continuing Education Award
This award is given to a municipal member operator who obtained the most continuing education credits by attending NH Recycles events in the past year.
Neal Alex Marrion (Alex) is the Building and Grounds Foreman for Pembroke, NH. Alex accrued 18 hours of continuing education credits from NH Recycles in the past year by attending three Member Operations Marketing (MOM) meetings, our Recycling Conference & Expo, and our fall bus tour. While solid waste facility operators in NH are required to obtain 2.5 continuing education credits annually, Alex went above and beyond. We appreciate Alex's commitment to continuing education to improve recycling and waste management in Pembroke.
Rookie of the Year
This award is given to an innovative solid waste operator who is new to their position.
Matt Bumford was promoted to the position of Transfer Station Manager for Henniker, NH last December upon the retirement of the longtime former manager. Our team has observed that Matt is very active trying to do what is best at the transfer station. He asks questions about how to improve the transfer station’s operations and hosted NH Recycles staff for a site visit to his facility. Matt has been a consistent presence at NH Recycles events, attending 15 since he joined the town in 2022. Matt also takes the time to share his knowledge with others, recently volunteering for a Solid Waste Advisory Team visit to the Town of Antrim’s transfer station. Unfortunately, Matt was unable to join us in person at this year's Annual Meeting. He was presented with his award by Municipal Recycling Advisor Steve Bean the following day.
Recycling Advocate Award
This award recognizes an individual who has worked to meaningfully advance recycling in NH and beyond.
Representative Karen Ebel is the Democratic Leader Pro Tempore for the NH House of Representatives representing Merrimack District #7 (New London and Newbury). She has demonstrated a sustained and significant commitment to advancing recycling and waste reduction in the state of NH. In 2019, Rep. Ebel formed the Committee to Study Recycling Streams and Solid Waste Management in NH. The Committee held 14 meetings and heard testimony from over 50 stakeholders, including NH Recycles. To advance the recommendations of the study committee, Rep. Ebel formed the NH Solid Waste Working Group, which is responsible for assisting NHDES with solid waste planning and policy initiatives. Rep. Ebel has sponsored numerous bills that have successfully been passed into law, including the creation of a Solid Waste Management Fund and $1M in funding that will allow NHDES to provide grants to municipalities and others to advance food waste diversion and recycling initiatives for the first time in the state’s history. Rep. Ebel has worked tirelessly to educate her colleagues and advocate for proactive measures to reduce waste disposal and increase recycling and waste diversion in NH.
Business of the Year
This award is given to a business that has demonstrated a high excellence in service to NH Recycles’ municipal members.
Apparel Impact is a textile recycling company that has been a wonderful partner for our member communities. Founded in 2015, Apparel Impact began working closely with many NH Recycles member communities during the pandemic when other textile recycling companies reduced services for our members. We routinely see Apparel Impact collection boxes at member transfer stations during site visits and hear positive reviews from members about Apparel Impact’s quality of service and consistency and ease of pickups. Apparel Impact has also participated as a sponsor and exhibitor at our conference with Co-Founder and CEO Joe Whitten participating in our keynote panel discussion at our 2025 conference. Apparel Impact is a veteran owned company based locally in Hooksett, NH. In addition to textile recycling, Apparel Impact gives back to the communities it serves by hosting community outreach events where people in need can “shop” for free clothing.
Recycler of the Year
This lifetime achievement award honors those who best combine the qualities of commitment, leadership, and enthusiasm in developing and sustaining an environmentally and financially sound solid waste management program.
Ken Filpula began working at the Moultonborough Transfer Station in 2008 as an attendant and was promoted to Supervisor in 2016. Ken has demonstrated a consistent commitment to improving transfer station operations for both staff and residents, as well as supporting other solid waste facility operators. Ken worked closely with the Town during their transition from source-separated recycling to single stream recycling, providing guidance to the residents throughout the process. Under Ken’s leadership, the transfer station features eye-catching signs with cartoon characters and a home composting demonstration area. He also educates the next generation by hosting local schools to visit and tour the transfer station. Ken has shared his knowledge with other solid waste facility operators, presenting about engaging the public for NHDES and safety for NH Recycles, as well as hosting a traveling MOM meeting for NH Recycles to review security camera system Ken installed to increase safety for residents and staff. Ken has also served as a board member for NH Recycles since 2021. During that time, he volunteered to help develop a capital improvement plan for NH Recycles’ office building, served on our Conference Planning Committee, participated in Solid Waste Advisory Team visits to help improve operations at other transfer stations, and even patched a leak in our roof. All told, Ken has participated in 35 NH Recycles events and meetings, and counting, since joining the board four years ago.
Looking Ahead
Members also voted unanimously to approve updates to the bylaws and elect the Board of Trustees slate for 2025–2026.
As the meeting wrapped up, Board President Joan Cudworth summed up the spirit of the day: NH Recycles is strong because its members are strong—operators, town staff, board members, residents, and partners all pulling in the same direction.
The afternoon closed with applause, warm conversations, and renewed energy for the work ahead.
