Our June 2026 Member Operations & Marketing Meeting brought 15 attendees to the Keene Recycling Center for a morning of updates, discussion, and an inside look at one of New Hampshire’s larger municipal recycling facilities.
The meeting covered a wide range of topics important to recycling and solid waste operators, including cooperative marketing and purchasing, current recycling markets, household hazardous waste events, legislative developments, and updates from the NH Department of Environmental Services.
A Strong Focus on Solid Waste Safety
Solid waste safety was a major theme throughout the meeting, particularly following a recent fire at the Keene transfer station. Attendees learned about the new NH Recycles Solid Waste Safety Toolkit, which provides resources that facilities can use to improve their operations and educate residents including:
- An updated 90-minute solid waste safety webinar (featuring Keene)
- Fire prevention and hazard identification
- Two-stage separation of incoming materials
- Resident education about dangerous and prohibited items
- Fire and emergency response procedures
- NHDES requirements and facility operating plans
Attendees also heard an update on NH Recycles’ USDA Solid Waste Safety Grant and some of the trends staff have observed during recent technical assistance visits.
Markets, Glass, and Household Hazardous Waste
The meeting included a recycling market update and a closer look at clean glass as the featured commodity. Participants discussed current market conditions, contamination concerns, and ways communities can improve the quality and value of the materials they collect.
Household hazardous waste events were featured as an important municipal program. The discussion provided an opportunity for attendees to share experiences and consider how communities can improve access, participation, and safe handling of hazardous materials.
Behind the Scenes at the Keene Recycling Center
Following the meeting, Keene's Solid Waste Manager Ben Hoy led attendees on a tour of the facility.
The timing provided a particularly interesting opportunity to see the center before a major overhaul of equipment that has been operating for approximately 30 years.
Attendees saw the facility’s walking-floor system, which moves recyclable material to a horizontal baler located on a lower level. The automated design allows the baler to operate without requiring an employee to remain beside it.
The tour group learns about the walking floor - pictured behind them - which moves recyclables to the baler and the lower level.
The tour group then went downstairs to check out the baler, which produces horizontal, self-tying bales. Beautiful!
The group also toured Keene’s small-scale materials recovery line, where staff remove recyclable plastics and equipment separates metal containers. A rotating magnetic system helps recover steel and tin cans from the recycling stream.
The tour offered a clear view of the contaminants that arrive mixed with recyclable materials. Seeing these items firsthand reinforced the importance of resident education and careful inspection of incoming loads.
(Left) This nearly-full bottle of soda is a good example of contamination in recycling - bottles should be empty and rinsed!
(Right) This container is full of contamination that has been pulled out of the recycling line. Wish-cycling simply does not work - not all plastics can be recycled. (Check out our quick plastics guide for more information.)
Investing in the Future
After the tour, Ben shared an overview of Keene’s operations and the improvements underway at the facility.
Recent and planned projects include paving, a new roof, grounds improvements, and replacement equipment. These investments will help modernize the facility, improve working conditions, and support reliable recycling services for the community.
The Keene recycling bays await their own makeover and are soon to be repainted in a giant "KEENE"
The facility also offered an unexpected highlight: the view from the top of Keene’s closed landfill. A portion of the group made the hike to the summit and was rewarded with a beautiful panoramic view of the surrounding area.
The meeting and tour gave attendees an opportunity to exchange ideas, learn from Keene’s operations, and see how facility design, equipment, education, and safety practices come together in a working municipal recycling center.
NH Recycles thanks Ben Hoy and the Keene Recycling Center team for hosting the meeting, sharing their experiences, and providing such an informative tour.
Pictured left to right: Steve Bean (NH Recycles Municipal Recycling Advisor), Andrea Folsom (NH Recycles Executive Director), Ben Hoy (Keene Solid Waste Manager), Mike Nork (NHDES Supervisor of Materials Management), Josh Whipple (Swanzey Recycling Center Manager), Matt Bumford (Henniker Transfer Station Superintendent), Zach Dodge (Henniker Transfer Station Attendant), and Erica Douglas (Bedford Environmental Coordinator).