Environment (Recycling)

in committee · New Hampshire · Senate Jan 7, 2026

SB 226: suspending applications for new landfills and establishing a committee to study the feasibility of incinerating solid waste.

SB 226 suspends all new landfill permit applications until July 1, 2031, to allow for updated regulations and policies. It establishes a legislative committee to study the feasibility of waste incineration, including its environmental impacts and effects on landfill capacity. The suspension does not affect expansions or modifications of existing permitted landfills operating on sites with RCRA Subtitle D landfills as of December 1, 2022. The committee must report its findings and recommendations by November 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentSuspends new landfills to update regulations and studies incineration's environmental impacts, advancing waste management protections.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Recycling Waste Management

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failed · New Hampshire · House Feb 19, 2026

HB 1679: establishing a beverage container redemption program.

HB 1679 establishes a refundable $0.10 deposit on most beverage containers sold in New Hampshire, requiring distributors to collect the deposit and consumers to return empty containers to redemption centers or retailers for a refund. It exempts containers larger than 3 liters, milk, plant-based milk, infant formula, and beverages sold on airlines or trains. Distributors reimburse redemption centers $0.035 per container for processing, and unclaimed deposits after one year fund recycling infrastructure and litter prevention programs. The program, effective January 2027, directly affects distributors, retailers, redemption centers, and consumers purchasing eligible beverages.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentEstablishes deposit system to boost container recycling, reduce litter, and fund recycling infrastructure, directly advancing waste reduction and conservation goals.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Recycling

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signed · New Hampshire · House Jul 16, 2026

HB 1141: relative to permitting and fee authority for mining and prospecting.

HB 1141 prohibits the state from approving new large groundwater permits for commercial bottling of water in plastic bottles made with hydrocarbon-derived plastic. It directly affects companies seeking to establish new bottling operations using plastic containers, preventing them from obtaining permits for groundwater extraction. The bill requires the department to deny all new permits for this specific purpose, but does not impact existing bottling operations or non-plastic containers. This is a concrete policy change targeting the environmental impact of plastic-bottled water production at the permit stage.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentProhibits new groundwater permits for plastic bottled water, conserving water resources and reducing plastic pollution from hydrocarbon-derived containers.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Recycling

failed · New Hampshire · House Feb 19, 2026

HB 1789: relative to extended producer responsibility.

HB 1789 establishes a program requiring producers of packaged goods to cover the cost of managing their product packaging after consumer use. This applies to manufacturers, brands, and importers selling products in New Hampshire under their brand, excluding medical packaging, certain agricultural products, and beverage containers under existing deposit programs. Producers will pay fees to a non-profit organization (managed by the Department of Environmental Services) to fund packaging reduction initiatives, reusable/refillable systems, recycling infrastructure, and reimbursements to local governments for recycling costs. The bill defines key terms like "packaging" and "producer" to clarify responsibilities under this extended producer responsibility framework.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires producers to cover packaging waste costs, funding reduction efforts to protect environment through waste management and resource conservation.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Recycling

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passed · New Hampshire · House May 5, 2026

HB 1622: requiring the state to develop additional solid waste disposal capacity.

This bill requires New Hampshire's Department of Environmental Services (DES) to inventory all operating and closed landfills (including those needing remediation) and assess available acreage for expansion while considering current regulations like setbacks from water bodies and homes. It prohibits DES from accepting new landfill applications in undeveloped "greenfield" areas unless applicants prove existing landfills cannot be expanded. The state must fund this through its existing Solid Waste Management Fund, with estimated annual costs of $4.2 million starting in fiscal year 2027 for staff and consultant work. The bill directly affects DES and future landfill developers seeking permits, mandating a comprehensive review before new disposal sites can be approved.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentProhibits new landfills in greenfields unless existing sites can't expand, requiring DES to prioritize waste site expansion over new undeveloped land, protecting natural areas and reducing environmental impact.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Recycling Waste Management

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in committee · New Hampshire · House Feb 19, 2026

HB 1198: establishing the paint product stewardship program.

HB 1198 establishes a program to manage paint consumers no longer want (postconsumer paint) by requiring paint manufacturers to create and fund a stewardship plan. The plan must detail how to collect, recycle, or responsibly dispose of unused paint, include a fee added to each paint purchase, and cover consumer education. Manufacturers must submit their approved plans to the state environmental agency within 12 months, and retailers can only sell paint if the manufacturer has an approved plan. This directly affects paint manufacturers, retailers, and voluntary collection sites that participate.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesImposes mandatory fee on paint sales to fund environmental stewardship program, creating dedicated tax revenue for public service.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires manufacturers to manage paint waste via recycling/disposal, reducing pollution and aligning with environmental protection through waste stewardship.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Recycling

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passed · New Hampshire · House May 5, 2026

HB 1138: limiting the placement of out-of-state waste going into New Hampshire landfills.

HB 1138 limits how much out-of-state solid waste New Hampshire landfills can accept. It requires existing landfill operators (permit holders before 2026) to cap out-of-state waste at 30% of total waste by January 1, 2030. New landfills permitted after January 1, 2026, must limit out-of-state waste to 15% of total waste. The law takes effect 60 days after passage.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentLimits out-of-state waste in landfills, reducing transportation emissions and landfill strain, aligning with pollution control and resource conservation goals.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Recycling Waste Management

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failed · New Hampshire · House Apr 23, 2026

HB 1602: creating a safe battery recycling stewardship program.

HB 1602 creates a statewide program requiring battery manufacturers and brands (producers) to fund and manage the safe collection and recycling of covered batteries. It applies to portable batteries (under 4.4 lbs primary or 11 lbs rechargeable) and medium-format batteries (11-25 lbs), excluding medical device batteries, vehicle batteries, and lead-acid batteries over 11 pounds. Producers must join a "battery stewardship organization" that meets annual collection targets and follows environmental safety rules, with the Department of Environmental Services overseeing compliance. The program shifts recycling responsibility from consumers to producers, ensuring covered batteries are handled safely through a structured, industry-funded system.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires battery producers to fund safe recycling, preventing toxic waste pollution and aligning with environmental protection goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Recycling

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