What is the Community Advisory Committee?
Why was the committee formed?
What is the purpose of the committee?
What is the committee structure?
When and where does the committee meet?
Are the Community Advisory Committee meetings open to the public?
How many landfills are operating in NH and why are they important?
What is landfill gas?
Why does landfill gas have an unpleasant odor?
We've noticed more odors recently? What is being done about this?
Who makes sure the landfill gas at Turnkey is properly managed?
Why can I smell the landfill odor at times but my neighbor cannot?
Who is Waste Management of New Hampshire?
What is the Turnkey Landfill?
What causes landfill gas and odors?
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| Q: | What is the Community Advisory Committee? |
A:
Top | The Community Advisory Committee is a volunteer advisory group created at the request of Waste Management of New Hampshire to more fully address community issues associated with Turnkey Recycling and Environmental Enterprises (TREE). |
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| Q: | Why was the committee formed? |
A:
Top | Waste Management of New Hampshire, which owns and operates the TREE facility recognized that there were some community issues associated with recent landfill odors. They wanted to be sure that there was a dialog with key constituencies of TREE to ensure these issues were addressed so that it could continue to serve the community as best as possible. In addition, it was believed that there might be other future issues that may, from time to time, benefit from having a broad point of discussion, suggestion and input. |
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| Q: | What is the purpose of the committee? |
A:
Top | The Community Advisory Committee's purpose is to:
- Inform Waste Management of New Hampshire officials of issues regarding odor management and landfill operations as viewed from the perspective of area residents, businesses, and other stakeholders.
- Conduct information sessions as deemed appropriate for the purposes of soliciting further community perspective and technical expertise.
- Advise company officials regarding areas for broader dialog between various TREE constituencies.
- Communicate to other members of the community efforts underway or planned which have been designed to mitigate landfill odors, as well as other TREE operational issues.
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| Q: | What is the committee structure? |
A:
Top | Currently the committee is made up of eleven members and includes representatives from Rochester, Dover, and local environmental groups as well as two neighborhood representatives. A complete list of the members can be found by using the drop down menu on the home page entitled Community Advisory Committee Members. |
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| Q: | When and where does the committee meet? |
A:
Top | The committee meetings are generally held on the third Monday of each month and are held at the TREE training classroom facility at 38 Rochester Neck Road in Rochester. Check this web site to be sure there has been no change in up-coming meeting schedules. |
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| Q: | Are the Community Advisory Committee meetings open to the public? |
A:
Top | Yes, the meetings are open to the public. Generally speaking, the committee conducts two types of meetings; business meetings and public hearings. The businesses meetings are sessions in which the committee conducts regular and on-going business related to its Statement of Purpose. At business meetings, whether or not the public can speak is at the discretion of the committee. This is to ensure that the business of the committee can be accomplished within its limited timeframe.
Public Hearings are meetings convened for the expressed purpose of hearing comments from area residents regarding issues established by the committee. These meetings will be devoted exclusively to public testimony and comment.
The public may submit questions, comments or suggestions at any time to the committee either through any of the members, by mail, or through this web site.
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| Q: | How many landfills are operating in NH and why are they important? |
A:
Top | Today, only about twelve landfills remain - with that number continuing to decline.
New Hampshire produces more than one million tons of solid waste each year. The safe disposal of waste is an important environmental as well as an economic issue, which impacts residents and businesses throughout the Granite State.
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| Q: | What is landfill gas? |
A:
Top | Landfill gas is created by the decomposition of waste and is approximately 50% methane, 50% carbon dioxide with trace amounts of a variety of other compounds. Methane is a reliable and renewable fuel source that can be collected and used in a variety of applications such as producing electricity.
For more information on landfill gas visit the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Landfill Methane Outreach Program (LMOP) at www.epa.gov |
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| Q: | Why does landfill gas have an unpleasant odor? |
A:
Top | Landfill gas contains trace constituents such as hydrogen sulfide which at times, can be odorous. |
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| Q: | We've noticed more odors recently? What is being done about this? |
A:
Top | In July of 2004, Waste Management of New Hampshire announced a comprehensive effort to respond to increased landfill odors. As part of this program, the company began a multi-million-dollar program at the Turnkey Recycling and Environmental Enterprises (TREE) landfill facility to install additional landfill gas extraction wells and make other improvements to improve the landfill gas collection system. A total of 37 new wells have been constructed since that time with an additional 28 wells now in various stages of construction and installation. It is expected that the addition of these new gas extraction wells, and many other initiatives that have and will be undertaken, will have a positive impact in reducing landfill odors. The construction program is approximately 60% complete and, weather permitting, the company expects the vast majority of the work to be finished by the end of 2004. At that point Waste Management of New Hampshire will assess the effectiveness and make a determination on any additional adjustments that might be needed. |
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| Q: | Who makes sure the landfill gas at Turnkey is properly managed? |
A:
Top | Waste Management of New Hampshire conducts well over a thousand tests each year on various aspects of landfill operations, public health and safety, and the environment. Importantly, the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, as well as the Federal Environmental Protection Agency, regulate various aspects of landfill operations including landfill gas to ensure public health and to protect the environment. |
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| Q: | Why can I smell the landfill odor at times but my neighbor cannot? |
A:
Top | Humans can distinguish between 3,000 and 10,000 different odors. The sense of smell, just like the other senses of sight, hearing, taste, and touch, varies from person to person. One person may be able to smell an odor like hydrogen sulfide at extremely low concentrations, while another person in the same community or home cannot.
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| Q: | Who is Waste Management of New Hampshire? |
A:
Top | Waste Management of New Hampshire is the leading recycling and waste disposal company operating in New Hampshire, employing more than 560 people. The company owns and operates Turnkey Landfill in Rochester, NH |
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| Q: | What is the Turnkey Landfill? |
A:
Top | The Turnkey Recycling and Environmental Enterprises, (TREE) facility in Rochester, NH, was the first fully-lined sanitary landfill to be licensed in NH. By virtually all industry standards, the Turnkey Landfill is considered a state-of-the-art facility and has been used as a model for other landfill operations throughout the country. The facility is currently operating in phase seven of a total of eight permitted phases. |
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| Q: | What causes landfill gas and odors? |
A:
Top | Landfill gas, which is primarily composed of methane gas and carbon dioxide, is a natural by-product of decomposing refuse and is found in all landfills. At times, landfill gas, depending on a number of factors, can be found to be odorous. |
