SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT
With USDA funding, the Lakes Region Planning Commission is working to address solid waste issues in our communities in an effort to mitigate water pollution and improve the management of solid waste sites.
LRPC provides technical assistance to solid waste operators, municipal officials, and community members. Our goal is to educate stakeholders about the importance of sustainable waste management. Program information and associated resources are posted here.
Key Sections:
- Announcements
- Facility Management & Waste Disposal for solid waste sites
- Helpful Links – resources for types of solid waste
- Articles, Reports, and Videos – local, regional, and state publications
- Resource Library – links to other waste websites
- Solid Waste Roundtables (right column)
- Waste Hauling/Disposal Options (right column)
Solid Waste Roundtables
Roundtable topics are subject to change until the meeting date is set.
Solid waste operators can obtain certification credits for NHDES continuing professional development licensure by attending our roundtables. The number of credit hours depends on the session.
For questions or to RSVP for a roundtable, call
(603) 279-5336 or send us an email.
[To view prior year’s roundtables, visit our archives page.]
USDA FY24-25 (October 1 – September 30)
Full Cost Accounting & Solid Waste Research Guest Speakers: Brian Patnoe & Andrea Folsom, NRRA August 15, 2024 | |
2024 HHW Updates, Managing My Waste Webpage & Pending SW Legislation Guest Speaker: Paige Wilson, DES March 26, 2024 |
Announcements
January 2026
Solid Waste Safety Summit: Lithium-Ion Battery Safety
NH Recycles has been awarded a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to support the implementation of a Solid Waste Safety project. The project aims to improve the safe management of community recycling programs, reduce the overall waste stream and associated costs, and prevent water contamination by strengthening recycling practices for materials such as lithium‑ion batteries, propane tanks, and scrap metal. The project will run from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026.
Safety Summit Dates & Locations
- Laconia: February 12, 2026 | 2.5 hours credit (event closed)
- New London (in-person): March 19, 2026 | 2.5 hours credit
- Keene (in-person) [exact date and location TBD]: July 2026 | 2.5 hours credit
- Online Webinar: April 6, 2026 (12:00 pm – 1:30 pm) | 1.5 hours credit
Who Should Attend
- Solid waste operators & staff
- Local firefighters & staff
- Municipal/town employees
- Interested residents
How to Sign up
- Complete and submit the registration form at NH Recycles – Solid Waste Safety Summit Registration, making the appropriate selection for “in-person” attendance.
January 2026
Food Waste Composting Pilot Program
LRPC has been awarded a USDA Composting and Food Waste Reduction (CFWR) grant to implement the first-ever food waste composting pilot program in the Lakes Region. In collaboration with five partner communities—Ashland, Bristol, Gilford, Moultonborough, and Wolfeboro—LRPC will provide training, equipment, and data collection support to help launch food waste composting efforts that reduce the overall waste stream
April 10, 2025
What to Know About Lithium-ion Batteries
NH DES announces a ban on the disposal of RECHARGEABLE (LITHIUM-ION) BATTERIES in household trash and solid waste facilities beginning July 1, 2025. Lithium-ion batteries can be found in many rechargeable electric devices such as electric bikes and scooters, cordless power tools, lawn care equipment, portable devices (cell phones, laptops, tablets, wireless headphones, and Bluetooth speakers), toys, and personal care items such as rechargeable toothbrushes, shavers, and water pics.
- https://www.des.nh.gov/news-and-media/blog/lithium-ion-batteries (for municipalities and residents)
- https://www.nhrecycles.org/operator-toolkits/batteries-toolkit (for municipalities and residents)
- https://www.des.nh.gov/sites/g/files/ehbemt341/files/documents/facility-sign_notice-of-li-ion-battery-disposal-ban.pdf (DES signage for transfer stations)
- LRPC’s universal waste disposal guide. This also includes a list of other universal waste items.
To view the updated law, please see RSA 149-M:27 Disposal Prohibited.
Facility Management & Waste Disposal
CAPPED LANDFILL MAINTENANCE:
NHDES Summary Fact Sheets –
- Landfills: History, Design and Post Closure
- Post-Closure Care of Solid Waste Landfills: Maintenance, Monitoring, & Reporting
EFFICIENT TRANSFER STATION SITE DESIGN:
- Best Management Practices for Solid Waste Facilities (NHDES)
- Efficient Site Design – A manual for transfer stations created by U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
- Land Use Setbacks from Drinking Water Supplies (NHDES) – Rules/regulations applicable to all land use types including solid waste facilities.
PAY AS YOU THROW (PAYT):
- About Pay-as-You-Throw – Understand the options. (WasteZero)
- Success with PAYT – A DSM Environmental Services presentation about experiences with PAYT.
DISPOSAL RESOURCES & TOOLKITS:
- Drop-off Recycling Anti-Contamination Toolkit (The Recycling Partnership).
- Influencing Recycling Behaviors – A guidance document.
- TerraCycle – Recycle the Unrecyclable (website).
- Set up a public drop-off location for residents!
- Mail back program offers box, pouch, and pallet collection options for recycling different waste types.
- Thermostat Recycling Corporation (website).
Waste Hauling/Disposal Contracts
Resources when writing or negotiating municipal waste disposal/hauling contracts.
- Hauling Contract (template)
- Disposal Contract (template)
Helpful Links
(In alphabetical order by topic/waste type.)
This section brings together reliable, educational resources to support safe, responsible, and environmentally sound waste management practices. The links are intended to raise awareness, share best practices, and provide trusted information that helps reduce risks, protect public health, and promote compliance with environmental standards. They serve as a reference for individuals and professionals seeking guidance on proper handling, disposal, and sustainability-focused decision‑making. Explore the links to learn more and make informed, safety‑smart choices.
BATTERIES:
- Avoid the Spark. Be Battery Safety Smart! – Call2Recycle prevention campaign (website).
- E-Cigarette & E-Liquid Waste Disposal – Tips for Safe Disposal.
- Waste Reduction & Diversion Toolkit: Batteries – NH Recycles website.
CONSTRUCTION & DEMOLITION (C&D) DEBRIS:
- BMPs for C&D Debris – (NHDES)
- Recycling C&D Waste – A Guide for Architects and Contractors.
- Managing C&D Debris in New Hampshire – A presentation by Tara Albert of NHDES, Fred Bruneau of Resource Waste Services, Ross Malcolm of NHDHHS, and Michael Doherty of NHDHHS (2021).
ELECTRONIC WASTE:
- News & Media: Electronics (NHDES website) – Recycle, reuse, and repair information.
- The Global E-Waste Monitor 2020 – A report on quantities, flows, and the circular economy potential.
- BMP for E-Waste (NHDES) – Information for N.H. Solid Waste Facilities.
FOOD WASTE REDUCTION & COMPOSTING:
- Google Drive Resource Folders:
- Home Composting – Resources for composting at home.
- Camp Composting – BMP guidance documents co-created by LRPC to help camps organize their own composting program.
- School Composting – Site/operation planning, waste audits, log sheets, budgeting, case studies, etc.
- Factsheets for the Lakes Region prepared in conjunction with Northeast Waste Management Officials’ Association (NEWMOA):
- Composting Food Waste: How to Get Started – A 6-page guide on how to compose at home in the Lakes Region.
- Reducing Food Waste: Tips to Save You Money! – Informational sheet.
- Food Recovery and Donation Made Easy – Informational sheet.
- Backyard Composting of Food Waste: It’s As Easy as 1:3 – Informational sheet.
- COVID-19 Community Composting Guidance (NERC) – Created by the Northeast Recycling Council.
- Centralized Composting (NERC) – A detailed report about how to plan and implement a compost site in your community.
- Community Composting: Best Management Practices – Created by The Institute for Local Self-Reliance.
GLASS/PROCESSED GLASS AGGREGATE (PGA):
- BMP for Glass (NHDES) – Information for N.H. Solid Waste Facilities.
- PGA Frost Susceptibility Study – Conducted in NH (1993) by the Army Corps of Engineers.
- New London PGA Program – An article about the progress and economic benefits at the PGA site in New London, NH.
- Glass Packaging Institute – Find glass recycling information and Life Cycle Assessment reports.
HAZARDOUS WASTE – SMALL QUANTITY GENERATORS (SQG):
- NH Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) – Website that provides guidance on identifying, safely handling, and properly disposing of household hazardous waste, including information on local collection events and resources for residents and municipalities.
- Lakes Region Household Hazardous Waste Collection (website).
- SQG Hazardous Waste Disposal Options (2018) – NHDES news for compliance assistance and pollution prevention.
- SQG Self-Tranportation to HHW Events – NHDES fact sheet for small businesses looking to dispose of their hazardous waste at local collection events.
- Identification of Hazardous Waste – NHDES fact sheet to help determine hazardous waste by its characteristics per the Env-Hw 100-1200 rules.
Please call NHDES (603-271-3503) or visit the NHDES website
for information on additional materials like asbestos and
medications that are not covered by LRPC’s HHW collection event.
MEDICAL WASTE & SHARPS:
- BMPs for Household Sharps (NHDES) – Information for N.H. Solid Waste Facilities.
- Fact Sheet for Household Sharps (NHDES) – Disposal Tips for Household Generated Sharps with printable labels.
- Do’s & Don’ts (FDA) – Safe Disposal of Needles and Other Sharps Used At Home, At Work, or While Traveling.
PAINT STEWARDSHIP:
- Latex Paint Disposal Guide (2019).
- Paint Smarter with PaintCare (website).
- Paint Stewardship 101 – A November 14, 2018 webinar presentation by the Product Stewardship Institute.
- Advanced Paint Stewardship – A December 10, 2018 webinar presented by the Product Stewardship Institute.
PRESSURIZED CYLINDERS & CONTAINERS:
- Pressurized Containers (NHDES website)– Aerosol cans & compressed gas cylinders disposal information.
UNIVERSAL WASTE (UW):
- NHDES Best Management Practices for N.H. Solid Waste Facilities for:
- Antifreeze (2013)
- Mercury-Containing Devices & Lamps/Bulbs (2020)
- Universal Waste (2020)
- UW Disposal Guide (2025 Tri-Fold) – Helpful tips for solid waste operators and residents.
- UW Disposal Options (Municipal) – Resources, state contract, roundtable notes, and contacts.
Articles, Reports, and Videos
ARTICLES:
- Gilford Styrofoam Recycling Hub – Regional Pilot Program (03/31/22 Laconia Sun article).
- Laconia – Recycling Benefits City Budget (12/14/21 Laconia Sun article).
- Recycling Storymap – Strafford Regional Planning Commission website.
- “Recycling Still Rule$!” But the “Rules They are a Changin” – A NHMA article focused on the recycling challenges in the Northeast with charts and tables.
- State of Recycling Markets in New Hampshire – NH Municipal Association website.
REPORTS:
- HB 617 Final Report & Recommendations (2019) from the Committee to Study Recycling Streams and Solid Waste Management in New Hampshire. Committee meeting minutes, resources, and public testimonies can be found HERE.
- Biennial Solid Waste Report (2019) – Prepared by NHDES
- Biennial Solid Waste Report (2020-2021) – Prepared by NHDES
- Biennial Solid Waste Report (2021-2022) – Prepared by NHDES
VIDEOS:
- Disposing or Recycling – Top Questions Answered. This video explains how to properly dispose of or recycle common household items that shouldn’t go in regular trash—such as CFL bulbs, rechargeable batteries, used motor oil, and paint—based on questions we received from local residents during summer 2024.
Resource Library
- NHDES website (various publications).
- NHPR’s Recycling Network – News articles about recycling issues and progress in NH.
- PaintCare – Tips to help in the painting process such as how much paint to buy, how to make your paint last longer, ideas on using up leftover paint, and where to take paint to be recycled.
- Product Stewardship Institute – Since 2000, PSI’s model legislation and expert testimony have built extended producer responsibility (EPR) laws and programs nationwide. They work with governments, academia, nonprofits, and businesses to ensure that products are responsibly managed from design to end of life. Information on EPR by product.
- The Recycling Partnership (website).
- Managing My Waste (NHDES website) – Provides an overview of the different types of waste generated in NH and explains how residents and businesses should properly manage, recycle, or dispose of them in accordance with the state’s solid waste regulations.