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Plaistow TRAC weighs contract extension and outreach to boost recycling
Summary
At its Jan. 16 meeting, the Plaistow TRAC approved Dec. 19 minutes and discussed inviting Republic Services and other vendors to present on a possible contract extension, increasing recycling participation through outreach, and exploring composting and bulk-pickup options.
Plaistow, N.H. — At its Jan. 16, 2025 meeting, the Plaistow Trash Recycling Advisory Committee (TRAC) approved minutes from the Dec. 19, 2024 meeting and spent most of the evening discussing options for the town’s trash and recycling services, including potential vendor outreach, resident education and composting.
Selectman Jay DeRoche, chair of the TRAC, said he is arranging for Republic Services and other waste-management companies to attend future meetings to explain their offerings and pricing as the committee considers a possible contract extension. The committee agreed that making vendor quotes comparable will require defining a basic service package (weekly curbside trash) and designating recycling and other services as optional add-ons.
Member Carlina Polanco presented research showing that local haulers — Casella, Republic, Capital, Pinard and Waste Management — generally collect paper, glass and rigid plastic but do not accept plastic bags or plastic wrapping. Polanco recommended outreach measures, including school and library workshops, partnership with environmental groups and clearer curbside signage to reduce contamination and boost recycling tonnage.
Alternate Nancy Bishop said roughly 30–40% of the town’s trash stream is food waste and urged the committee to pursue composting options; she reported contacting Black Earth Composting to request a presentation. Chair DeRoche noted the Plaistow landfill already accepts yard debris and most metal items and suggested investigating whether compost collection could be added there.
The committee discussed other ways to increase diversion and convenience: adding businesses or organizations (for example, the Plaistow Fish & Game Club) to town collection routes if feasible; listing textile-recycling locations (noting Atkinson’s Helpsy program and a clothing bin at the Vic Geary Center); and publicizing medication disposal options at the Plaistow Police Station lobby and CVS drop box. The group also asked staff to gather tonnage reports and cost estimates for different bulk-pickup frequencies (weekly, twice monthly, monthly) to inform comparisons among bids.
For resident input, the TRAC discussed sending a survey by email or text, mailing a flyer, hosting outreach at the library and improving the town website with guidance about recycling practices. The committee scheduled its next meeting for Feb. 20, 2025 at 6:00 p.m.
Procedural action: Selectman Jay DeRoche moved to approve the Dec. 19, 2024 minutes; Dominic Guerriero seconded and the motion carried with the vote recorded as “all in favor.”
