Epsom, NH — NH Recycles has launched its Solid Waste Safety program, a new statewide initiative designed to improve transfer station safety, reduce solid waste, and protect water quality in rural New Hampshire communities. The program is supported by a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development, Rural Utilities Service (RUS) Solid Waste Management Grant.
NH Recycles is a multistate nonprofit organization that has supported community-based recycling programs for more than forty years and works with approximately 90% of New Hampshire municipalities. In recent years, rural transfer stations have faced growing safety challenges, including improperly disposed rechargeable batteries and hazardous contaminants in scrap metal—materials that can threaten worker safety and contaminate local water supplies when not properly managed.
“Rural transfer stations are on the front lines of solid waste management, often with limited staff and resources,” said Reagan Bissonnette, Executive Director of NH Recycles. “This program allows us to provide hands-on, practical support that helps communities operate more safely, reduce waste, and protect the water resources they rely on.”
The Solid Waste Safety program will provide free technical assistance and training to 100 New Hampshire communities with populations under 5,500 and median household incomes below the state’s non-metropolitan average. Support will focus on improving transfer station safety, reducing hazardous materials in the waste stream, and promoting environmentally sound and fiscally sustainable practices.
Program activities include in-person transfer station site visits, group safety trainings and summits, safety-focused recycling facility tours, and the development of print and online safety resources such as toolkits and newsletters. A safety demonstration project at a community transfer station will test and share practical approaches to improving safety and reducing contamination. Participating communities will also receive stipends and free safety supplies.
The Solid Waste Safety program runs from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026, and supports USDA Rural Development’s mission to help rural communities improve solid waste management and reduce pollution of drinking water and surface waters.
- This material is based upon work supported under a grant by the Rural Utilities Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Rural Utilities Service. Rural Community Assistance Partnership, Inc., is an equal opportunity provider and employer.