NH Solid Waste Working Group - First Meeting Scheduled

October 20, 2021

This summer, HB 413 was signed into law, which established a NH Solid Waste Working Group to assist the NH Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) with planning for New Hampshire's solid waste future.  Reagan Bissonnette, Executive Director, serves as NRRA's representative on the working group.  Four NRRA members were also appointed to the group.  The working group's first meeting will take place on Friday, October 29 at 9:30 AM at the NHDES Office at 29 Hazen Drive Room 208C Concord, NH 03301.  NRRA will provide periodic updates for NRRA's members about the solid waste working group's activities. 

Working Group Members

In addition to Reagan Bissonnette serving as NRRA's representative on the group, four NRRA members are members of the group.  Municipal members include Brian Patnoe (NRRA board member) from the Town of Lancaster, NH representing rural communities with source-separated recycling, Duncan Watson from the City of Keene, NH representing innovative municipal waste management, and Marc Morgan from the City of Lebanon, NH representing publicly-owned landfills.  Associate member Adam Clark from the City of Concord, NH is representing cities with single stream recycling. 

 

NameTitleOrganizationRepresenting
Reagan BissonnetteExecutive DirectorNortheast Resource Recovery AssociationSame
Howard PearlNH State RepresentativeNH House of RepresentativesEnvironment & Agriculture Committee
James GrayNH State SenatorNH SenateEnergy & Natural Resources Committee
Eric SteinhauserCouncilorNH Waste Management Councilsame
Steve PoggiDirector of Disposal Operations - New England/New YorkWaste Management, Inc.Privately-Owned Landfills and Materials  Recovery Facilities
Marc MorganSolid Waste ManagerCity of Lebanon, NHPublicly-Owned Landfills
Dennis SlocombOwnerD.C. Slocomb Company, LLCSolid Waste Haulers
Susannah SmithSenior Director of Public AffairsCoca-Cola Beverages NortheastCompanies that reprocess post-consumer waste
Adam ClarkAdministration Division Manager, General ServicesCity of Concord, NHCities with Single Stream Recycling
Josh WhippleSolid Waste ManagerTown of Swanzey, NHRural Communities with Source-Separated Recycling
Freda ParisManager of Environmental ServicesElliot HospitalNH Healthcare Industry
Lynn RubinsteinExecutive DirectorNortheast Recycling Councilsame
Jim MalleyProfessorUniversity System of NHExpertise in SW Sustainability
Mike WimsattDirector, Waste Management DivisionNHDESNHDES Commissioner
Greg LeaheyChief Operating OfficerResource Waste ServicesConstruction & Demolition Waste Processors
Karen EbelNH State RepresentativeNH House of RepresentativesHB 617 Study Committee (2019)
Matt HughesSenior Environmental ManagerWIN Waste InnovationsWaste-to-Energy Facilities
Duncan WatsonAssistant Director of Public Works DepartmentCity of Keene, NHInnovative Municipal Waste Management
Colin Kelly Vice President of Public AffairsSchnitzer Steel IndustriesScrap Metal Recyclers

Working Group Responsibilities

The solid waste working group's responsibilities include the following: 

  1. Assist NHDES in long-range planning for and the development of solutions to the state’s solid waste management challenges.
  2. Review and make recommendations for changes to the state’s existing solid waste reduction, recycling, and management policies, programs, goals, and initiatives.
  3. Review and make recommendations regarding the impact of regional solid waste management initiatives, including landfill waste disposal bans, on New Hampshire's solid waste disposal landfill capacity.
  4. Advise NHDES in the development of the solid waste management plan.
  5. Review and recommend methods to better provide technical assistance and educational outreach to municipalities, schools, businesses, and the public regarding solid waste reduction, recycling, and management policies.
  6. Review and recommend ways to better implement the solid waste hierarchy and solid waste reduction goals.
  7. Review and make recommendations based on the HB 617 study committee report on recycling and solid waste management in New Hampshire.
  8. Review such other matters as the working group deems necessary and to recommend any related legislation, policy, or rule changes.

The working group will submit an initial report on November 30, 2022 and a final report on November 1, 2026. 

UPDATE 11/18/2022: Ben Hoy - Manager of the Walpole Recycling Center, Director of the Alstead-Langson Transfer Station, and NRRA Board Member - has joined the SWWG. Ben replaces Brain Patnoe. 

UPDATE 7/31/2023: Josh Whipple, the Solid Waste Manager for the Town of Swanzey Recycling Center and NRRA Board Member has joined the SWWG. Josh replaces Ben Hoy.