NHDES Credit Webinars

NHDES Credits:  0.5

In August 2022, NRRA was awarded a grant by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Utilities Service to launch a Recycling Tools of the Trade project. This project is aimed at helping to address the unique challenges small, rural communities in New Hampshire face when it comes to solid waste management. With support from this USDA grant, NRRA is developing several new resources for our smallest communities. One such resource, which debuted at the 2023 Annual Recycling Conference & Expo, is a Recycling 101 presentation. Feedback on the presentation was very positive, with residents and operators alike expressing that they learned something new from the presentation.

This Recycling 101 presentation was designed for NH residents to learn more about:

1. Solid waste and recycling across the country

2. Recycling in New Hampshire

3. What happens to materials when they are recycled

4. Challenges and possible solutions New Hampshire faces when it comes to solid waste and recycling

5. Next steps residents can take to make a difference

The Recycling 101 presentation was designed so that ideally any individual, recycling committee member, or operator would be able to give this presentation to interested residents within their community. Notes have been included with each slide. For communities not interested in presenting, the recorded presentation is free to be shared with community groups as well. 

RECOMMENDATION: share the presentation in video format with a follow-up question and answer section with local transfer station operators to answer community-specific questions that residents may have.

This presentation is free and designed to be shared with NH communities. 

If you would like to present this presentation to your town or community, you are welcome to download a PowerPoint version of the presentation, which includes notes for all slides. Please note, this PowerPoint is password protected to prevent editing of the slides. When prompted, click "read only" - you will then be able to view the presentation and all notes when viewing the slide show in "Presenter View."

Download Recycling 101 PowerPoint PRESENTATION

Download Recycling 101 Presentation Slides

Download Recycling 101 Presentation Slides & Notes

**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.

NHDES Credits:  1

The following presentation was given at NRRA's 2022 Recycling Conference & Expo. 

This session will show attendees some of the techniques used at landfills to manage waste, deal with birds, address windblown litter, put out fires, reduce odors and work with customers. Today's landfill is not the same one you visited with your grandfather back in the day.

• Landfill 101- Marc Morgan, Solid Waste Manager, City of Lebanon, NH
• Moderator- John Halstead, NRRA Trustee

NHDES Credits:  .25

The following presentation was given at NRRA's 2022 Recycling Conference & Expo.

Maine’s demographics are changing with more new Americans calling our state home every day. Solid waste and recycling reflect our society, from the contents of our bins to challenges from language barriers.

• Michelle Radley, Business Development Representative, ecomaine, Portland, ME
• Moderator - Marilyn Weir, Finance Assistant, NRRA, Epsom, NH

NHDES Credits:  1

The following presentation was given at NRRA's 2022 Recycling Conference & Expo.  After the keynote panel presentations, which were not recorded, attendees were invited to a Keynote Question & Answer workshop, which was recorded. 

Join us for a keynote panel to discuss NRRA’s Recycling Conference & Expo theme “What’s Next: Rethinking Resource Recovery.” This panel of experts will provide different perspectives from national and regional organizations on solid waste issues including policy, plastics, regionalization, food waste, zero waste, and the circular economy.  

• Keefe Harrison, CEO and Founder, The Recycling Partnership, Falls Church, VA
• Kevin Roche, CEO, ecomaine, Portland, ME
• Peter Blair, Staff Attorney, Conservation Law Foundation, Portland, ME
• Moderator - Reagan Bissonnette, Executive Director, NRRA, Epsom, NH

NHDES Credits:  1

The following presentation was given at NRRA's 2022 Recycling Conference & Expo.

• EPA Federal Funding - Christine Beling,  Project Engineer, US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Boston, MA

• EPA Grant Project - Christopher Ratcliffe, Co-Director, RI Schools Recycling Club

• EPA Grant Project - Krishana Abrahim-Petrie, Project Staff, Northeast Waste Management Officials’ Association (NEWMOA)

• USDA Federal Funding - Jon-Michael Muise,  Area Director, USDA Rural Development
• Moderator, Brian Patnoe, NRRA Trustee

NHDES Credits:  1.75

The following presentation was given at NRRA's 2022 Recycling Conference & Expo.

Hear how the food scrap composting facility at the Windham Solid Waste Management District (WSWMD) has grown over its 10 years of operation, and the challenge WSWMD faces to obtain funding to meet Vermont permit requirements for a larger capacity facility. Also get the latest update to New Hampshire’s composting facility rules, which were developed to provide greater clarity and allow all composting facilities to manage meat & dairy food scraps.

• Vermont - Bob Spencer, Executive Director, Windham Solid Waste Management District, Brattleboro, VT
• New Hampshire - Mike Nork, Supervisor of Materials Management, Education and Planning,  NHDES
• Moderator- Roger Guzowski, NRRA Trustee

NHDES Credits:  .75

NRRA's November 2021 Annual Meeting featured a special presentation about current recycling markets by Chaz Miller, CEO of Chaz Miller Associates and former Director of the National Waste & Recycling Association.  Chaz is a 40-year veteran of the recycling and waste industry.  He is an ex officio member of the Northeast Recycling Council Board of Directors and the primary author of the NERC reports on increases in North American domestic recycled paper and recycled plastic capacity.  He is Chair of the Montgomery County MD Aiming for Zero Waste Task Force.

Chaz discussed the status of current recycling markets and the reasoning behind recent market changes.  He also provided his prediction for future markets and answered member questions.  Members won't want to miss this engaging and insightful presentation!

Some of the questions Chaz answered included: 

1. How long to do feel the fibers market will remain strong as it is currently? 
   
2. Will regional market variations increase in the future and regionally across the country? 
   
   
3. If a municipality is planning to invest in new recycling capabilities, what advice would you give, based on which commodities are likely to have sustained value in the coming years? Are there any "no regrets" investments that any municipality should consider, regardless of future market fluctuations? 
   
   
4. Do you foresee any changes in the requirements of our recycling materials? As we all strive to achieve the best revenues possible what, if any, changes will likely be in the future? 
   
   
5. A 10-cent container deposit bill is being proposed in the 2022 legislative session in NH.  What are your thoughts on bottle bills generally? 

NHDES Credits:  3.5

Over 185 presenters and attendees from New England and beyond participated in the Northeast Resource Recovery Association's (NRRA) virtual "Recycling with Results" Conference on May 10-11, 2021.   The conference featured six key topics currently faced by the municipal solid waste and recycling industry. NHDES solid waste operator continuing education credits are available for each recorded hour watched. Please contact info@nrrarecycles.org to receive your certificate for hours.  

Looking for the Day One recording?  

What Attendees Liked Most from Day Two

A wide variety of topics, presented by people who have implemented these projects In their communities. They saw a need, and worked to solve this.

Was most interested in what various transfer station managers offered, especially ways in which they had effectively improved the recycling facilities and had figured out the best ways to educate users about how to use the facilities.

Variety, knowledge and education of the presenters. The enthusiasm and dedication of the group and the hopeful promise that so much recycling is alive and well. Remarkable innovation and scope of end products.

The speakers, the accessibility, the recording for future reference and sharing. Real people working hands-on with real day-to-day challenges we all face in our towns. Lots of helpful solutions!

Day Two Agenda

The agenda, with timestamps for each presentation, is provided below. 

TUESDAY, MAY 11, 2021             

Welcome – Reagan Bissonnette, Executive Director, NRRA- 0:00- 8:54 minutes

National & Local Recycling Markets and Market Specifications

Learn about current recycling markets and what the future may hold. Our presenters will discuss what is happening at both the national and New England levels.

Presenters

• National & Northeast Recycling Markets - Chaz Miller, CEO Chaz Miller Associates; former Director, National Waste & Recycling Association - 9:30- 26:15 minutes
• New England Markets & Specifications - Bonnie Bethune, Member Services Manager, NRRA - 26:27- 45:21 minutes

Moderator for Q&A- Marc Morgan, Solid Waste Manager, Lebanon, NH - 45:45- 1:10:18 minutes

Plastics with a Plan: Municipal Options 1:10:58 minutes

Despite news about challenges with plastics recycling, many municipalities are doing so successfully.  Learn about different municipal models for source-separated recycling of plastics.

Presenters

• #1-7 Baled Plastic – Joe Gore, Transfer Station Manager, Town of Wakefield, NH 
• #1 & 2 Baled Plastic – Jon Edgerly, Operations Supervisor, BCEP Solid Waste District, Pittsfield, NH 

• #3-7 Plastics– Eadaoin Quinn, Director of Business Development & Procurement, EFS Plastics, Listowel, Ontario, Canada and Hazleton, Pennsylvania 

Moderator for Q&A- Mark Richardson,  Transfer Station Coordinator (Retired), Town of Hampton, NH and NRRA Board Treasurer 

Glass Recycling at NRRA - Reagan Bissonnette, Executive Director, NRRA 

Learn how NRRA is successfully enabling over 100 municipalities to recycle glass for over 500,000 residents in NH, VT, and MA, with a spotlight on using crushed glass as an aggregate for infrastructure projects.  

Understanding End Markets - What Happens with Your Recycling? 2:18:56 minutes

What happens with recyclables after their first use? Representatives from NRRA’s vendors that acquire common recyclables will discuss how they reach their next life.

Presenters

• Metal – Ira Gross, Manager, Regional Accounts, Schnitzer Northeast, Concord, NH 
• Paper - Dave Cameron, General Manager at OPRSystems, Inc., Wilmington, MA
• Glass – Francois Ierfino, Strategic Purchasing, Sourcing and Sales Manager, 2M Ressources, Quebec, Canada

Moderator for Q&A- Roger Guzowski, Contract & Procurement Manager, CT Resources Recovery Authority and NRRA Board of Trustees 

Closing Remarks – Joan Cudworth, Director of Public Works, Town of Hollis, NH & NRRA Board President