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The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) recently submitted New Hampshire's Priority Climate Action Plan (PCAP) to the EPA. NRRA was glad to see that solid waste considerations were included - specifically related to food waste, asphalt, and concrete - topics NRRA is currently focused on with grant-supported projects through the USDA and EPA. From the PCAP: The New Hampshire Priority Climate Action Plan (PCAP) was developed by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) utilizing a planning grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The goal of the PCAP is to create a pathway...

The NRRA Member Services department is made up of our Member Services Manager, Brian Patnoe, and Senior Member Services Representative, Bonnie Bethune. Together, they have over 60+ years of recycling and solid waste management experience to pull from! Their department provides cooperative marketing and purchasing assistance, along with ongoing technical assistance to member communities through email, phone, and in-person site visits. They also put together member-only market updates, and answer common member inquiries such as recycling trends, proper processing techniques, and market specifications. Recently, Brian visited with...

NRRA hosted a meeting of the Solid Waste Working Group (SWWG) at our office last week in the newly refreshed Member Operations & Marketing meeting room. We had 17 people attend in person, including several members of the public, with others joining remotely online. NRRA Executive Director, Reagan Bissonnette, had the opportunity to welcome the group to our office, introduce NRRA, and share some resources for municipalities available on the NRRA website. While the group previously learned about the NRRA Recycling 101 presentation, customizable recycling pamphlets (FREE to NRRA Members), and Recycle Right materials, seeing them on the...

For over forty years, NRRA’s Recycling Conference & Expo has been a premier conference focused exclusively on municipal recycling and waste reduction in the Northeast. Hundreds of attendees, exhibitors, speakers and sponsors gather over two days to discuss the tools and skills necessary to build thriving municipal recycling and waste reduction programs in your community. "Early Bird" registration for the 2024 Annual Recycling Conference is open and encouraged to ensure a spot during the following breakfast plenary panel discussions: Food Waste Diversion & Composting Join Jen Heaton-Jones, Executive Director of the Housatonic...

If you are an NRRA municipal member who uses our cooperative marketing and purchasing benefit, you've always been required to abide by the NRRA Terms & Conditions. In the past, however, these stipulations have been located in various places. To enhance accessibility and improve transparency, the NRRA Terms & Conditions have now been centralized on the NRRA website. By using NRRA cooperative marketing or purchasing programs, you are agreeing to the Terms & Conditions. Moving forward, you will see reference to the Terms & Condition in new NRRA contracts, as well as a link in all confirmation emails and digital forms, as illustrated...

Of the over 20 solid waste-related bills proposed in New Hampshire that NRRA is tracking, one relevant for all NRRA members in New Hampshire is HB 1386. The bill would prohibit the disposal of lithium-ion batteries in landfills, incinerators, and composting facilities, as well as prohibit the disposal of certain electronic devices. Lithium-ion batteries are rechargeable and found in cell phones, laptops, tablets, and more. According to a new report, more than 5,000 fires are estimated to occur annually at recycling facilities nationwide. Lithium-ion batteries are often the cause of such fires, including fires at transfer stations in...

The NRRA Board of Trustees welcomes the Pelham, NH Transfer Station & Highway Department Office Manager, Rhonda Whittier, to the Board! We at NRRA are grateful for dedicated and experienced Board Members, such as Rhonda, who are committed to NRRA's mission of partnering to make recycling strong through economic and environmentally sound solutions. Rhonda has worked for the Town of Pelham, NH since 2016 and at the Transfer Station since 2018. As the Transfer Station and Highway Department Office Manager, Rhonda works closely with the Road Agent and Superintendent of the Transfer Station to keep both departments running smoothly...

The year, with support from a Climate Pollution Reduction Grant from the EPA, the NH Department of Environmental Services is updating the NH Climate Action Plan. The goals of the New Hampshire Climate Pollution Reduction Program are to: Reduce greenhouse gas emissions while supporting the creation of good jobs and lowering energy costs for families. Empower community-driven solutions in neighborhoods overburdened from pollution and impacts of climate change by directly seeking input from those communities. Under  Justice40 guidance , the program’s goal is to have 40% of overall benefits flow to these communities. Deliver cleaner air...

Join the Northeast Resource Recovery Association (NRRA), the NH Department of Environmental Services, and Mark King of the Maine Compost School for a series of workshops on food waste diversion and composting on April 16th and 17th. With support from a USDA Rural Utilities Service grant, NRRA has teamed up to bring a series of workshops focused on food waste diversion this spring. Even better, this workshop series is FREE! Workshops will address everything from the basics of food waste and food waste diversion to specifics on how to implement a food waste diversion program within your community, including outreach and community...

As 2023 comes to a close, we want to celebrate four NRRAnniversaries - staff members who have worked at NRRA for the past 5, 10, 15, and 20 years! We asked Bonnie (20 years), Marilyn (15 years), Stacey (10 years), and Liz (5 years) to share the most exciting moment they've experience at NRRA, how they describe their work to friends, and why their work at NRRA matters to them. Let's hear what they had to say! Bonnie & Marilyn Senior Member Services Representative, Bonnie Bethune, has been with NRRA for 20 years and Finance Specialist, Marilyn Weir, has been with NRRA for 15 years. For much of that time Marilyn was a Member Services...