NASHUA REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION REGIONAL RECYCLING PLAN OCTOBER 2000 RECYCLING PLAN FOR THE NASHUA REGION Prepared by the NASHUA REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION October 2000 NASHUA REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION REGIONAL RECYCLING PLAN — October 2000 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................................... 1 Introduction and Overview of Prior Recycling Efforts ............................................................................... 1 CHAPTER I: CURRENT DISPOSAL AND COLLECTION PRACTICES ................................................. 2 City of Nashua .................................................................................................................................................. 2 Town of Merrimack.......................................................................................................................................... 4 Souhegan Regional Landfill and Transfer Stations...................................................................................... 5 Town of Amherst.............................................................................................................................................. 5 Town of Hollis................................................................................................................................................... 6 Town of Brookline ............................................................................................................................................ 6 Town of Mont Vernon...................................................................................................................................... 6 Town of Hudson............................................................................................................................................... 6 Town of Milford................................................................................................................................................ 7 Town of Windham............................................................................................................................................ 8 CHAPTER II: WASTE GENERATION................................................................................................................ 11 Waste Volumes ............................................................................................................................................... 11 Population Projections ................................................................................................................................... 12 Generation Rates............................................................................................................................................. 12 Waste Composition ........................................................................................................................................ 13 Projected Waste Volume................................................................................................................................ 15 Conclusion....................................................................................................................................................... 16 CHAPTER III: MARKET EVALUATION AND DISPOSAL METHODS.................................................. 17 Paper Products................................................................................................................................................ 17 Glass Product Containers .............................................................................................................................. 19 Plastic Product Containers ............................................................................................................................ 20 Metals and White Goods ............................................................................................................................... 22 Compost........................................................................................................................................................... 23 Tires .................................................................................................................................................................. 26 Batteries............................................................................................................................................................ 28 Used Motor Oil ............................................................................................................................................... 30 Propane Tanks................................................................................................................................................. 32 Computers and Electronics ........................................................................................................................... 33 Textiles ............................................................................................................................................................. 33 Construction Materials................................................................................................................................... 34 Household Hazardous Waste ....................................................................................................................... 36 Page i NASHUA REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION REGIONAL RECYCLING PLAN — October 2000 TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued) CHAPTER IV: RECYCLING FACILITIES AND CAPITAL COSTS ......................................................... 40 Souhegan Regional Landfill District ............................................................................................................ 40 Town of Merrimack........................................................................................................................................ 41 Town of Milford.............................................................................................................................................. 42 City of Nashua ................................................................................................................................................ 43 Town of Windham.......................................................................................................................................... 44 Outside the Nashua Region Solid Waste Management District............................................................... 45 CHAPTER V: ADVERTISING, MARKETING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS........................................... 49 CHAPTER VI: IMPLEMENTATION ALTERNATIVES AND ISSUES..................................................... 52 Waste Reduction Goal.................................................................................................................................... 52 Regional Recycling Alternatives................................................................................................................... 53 Residential Recovery Techniques................................................................................................................. 54 Commercial and Industrial Recycling ......................................................................................................... 57 Mandatory vs. Voluntary .............................................................................................................................. 58 Education/Public Awareness ....................................................................................................................... 58 Pay-As-You-Throw Trash Disposal ............................................................................................................. 59 Composting ..................................................................................................................................................... 60 Local, State and Federal Regulatory Barriers.............................................................................................. 61 Conclusion....................................................................................................................................................... 61 CHAPTER VII: CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS................................................................. 63 Recommendations for the Entire District .................................................................................................... 64 Recommendations for the Souhegan Region Landfill District................................................................. 65 Recommendations for Merrimack................................................................................................................ 66 Recommendations for Milford...................................................................................................................... 66 Recommendations for Hudson..................................................................................................................... 67 Recommendations for Nashua...................................................................................................................... 68 Recommendations for Windham.................................................................................................................. 68 APPENDIX — MAPS Nashua Regional Solid Waste Management District Location