Salem & Londonderry, NH apartment owners, asset managers, and on-site teams: New Hampshire does not have a statewide apartment recycling mandate, but your local ordinances still create real compliance exposure and clear expectations for how residents handle recyclables and trash. National Doorstep’s valet trash & recycling program is designed to align with Town of Salem Code Chapter 409 (Solid Waste) and Town of Londonderry, Title IV, Chapter V – Solid Waste/Recycling, including Section IX – Recycling for Multi-Family Complexes, so you can give residents a modern doorstep amenity while staying ahead of fines, permit revocations, or service terminations.
At the state level, the New Hampshire Solid Waste Management Act (RSA 149-M) and the 2022 NH Solid Waste Management Plan encourage waste reduction and recycling but stop short of a mandatory statewide recycling requirement. Local governments in Rockingham County – including Salem and Londonderry – use that authority to run transfer stations, set recycling rules, and, in Londonderry’s case, require multi-family complexes with more than four dwelling units to provide recycling access on-site as part of the Town’s program.
- Protect NOI & Reputation: Avoid loss of municipal collection service in Londonderry and civil penalties or permit revocation in Salem by aligning your program to local ordinances and RSA 149-M authority.
- Resident-First Convenience: Doorstep collection that keeps residents out of transfer-station lines and dark dumpster enclosures, supporting renewals and online reputation.
- Code-Smart Design: Collection points, labels, and service frequency designed around Salem Chapter 409 and Londonderry Section IX (Recycling – Multi Family Complexes), plus state solid-waste expectations.
- Hands-Off Compliance: We handle hauler coordination, resident education, and documentation so your property managers can focus on leasing and operations.
At a Glance: Salem vs. Londonderry & Rockingham County / State
Town of Salem, NH
- Mandate Type: Mandatory recycling participation for users of the Salem Transfer Station; no separate apartment-only recycling mandate.
- Applicability Threshold: Applies to residents and haulers using the Salem Transfer Station under Chapter 409 – Solid Waste; commercial and business waste is generally routed to private facilities.
- Resident Duties: Recycling is explicitly mandatory in Salem, and residents must separate designated recyclables from household trash and place them in specified areas at the Transfer Station under §409-7 Recycling. Failure to recycle can result in revocation of a transfer station permit.
- Program Duties for Properties: Larger communities in Salem typically rely on private haulers for trash and recycling. Property managers should ensure hauler contracts mirror the Town’s expectation that recyclables be separated and that residents have convenient access to recycling to keep them out of non-compliance at the Transfer Station.
- Fines & Enforcement: Under §409-10 Violations and penalties, Salem may levy civil penalties of up to $3,000 per act that violates Chapter 409, authorized by RSA 149-M:17, II(b), in addition to permit revocation and other remedies.
- Key Salem Links: Salem Recycling Information (Mandatory Recycling) · Salem Code – Chapter 409 Solid Waste · Salem Transfer Station / Solid Waste
Town of Londonderry & Rockingham County / State Context
- Mandate Type (Londonderry): Mandatory recycling access for multi-family complexes – a local apartment recycling mandate.
- Applicability Threshold (Londonderry): All multi-family dwelling complexes with more than four (4) family units must provide recycling access under Section IX – Recycling, Multi Family Complexes.
- Owner / Property Manager Duties (Londonderry): Owners or responsible property managers of complexes with >4 dwelling units must provide a recycling dumpster or other adequate facilities so residents can participate in the Town’s recycling program as part of solid-waste removal from the property.
- Enforcement & Penalties (Londonderry): Failure to comply can result in termination of collection and disposal services provided by the Town. Violations of the ordinance are treated as “violations” under RSA 31:39, III, with penalties up to $1,000 per offense, as allowed for municipal bylaws.
- Rockingham County Level: There is no county-wide apartment recycling mandate. Rockingham County and the Rockingham Planning Commission focus on regional coordination and household hazardous waste collection programs, while recycling rules and enforcement remain at the town level.
- State Framework: The NH Solid Waste Management Act (RSA 149-M) and the NH DES Solid Waste Management Plan encourage municipalities and solid-waste facilities to increase recycling and diversion but do not impose a statewide mandatory recycling requirement. Local ordinances, like Salem’s Chapter 409 and Londonderry’s multi-family recycling section, are where your compliance risk lives.
- Key Londonderry / County / State Links: Londonderry Ordinance 2013-03 – Solid Waste / Recycling & Multi-Family Section IX · NH Department of Environmental Services – Solid Waste · Rockingham Planning Commission – Waste Management
Rockingham County Communities & Apartment Recycling Snapshot
Within Rockingham County, there is no county-level ordinance that directly mandates apartment recycling access. Instead, town codes and transfer-station rules govern expectations for residents and property managers. Londonderry is one of the few communities with a clear multi-family recycling mandate and unit threshold. Salem uses mandatory recycling and transfer-station enforcement to push recycling participation.
| Community | Apartment / Multifamily Recycling Mandate? | Notes for Owners & Property Managers |
|---|---|---|
| Salem, NH | Indirect – Mandatory recycling for transfer station users |
Recycling is explicitly mandatory in Salem, and Town Code Chapter 409 requires users of the Transfer Station to separate recyclables from trash and place them in designated areas. Residents can bring single-stream recyclables to the Transfer Station, and certain recyclable materials must be diverted from trash. For apartment communities, Salem primarily treats solid waste as a combination of resident use of the Transfer Station and contracted private haulers. While there is no Salem-specific multi-family mandate like Londonderry’s “>4 units” rule, property managers who fail to make recycling convenient risk residents bypassing the rules and putting the community – and its haulers – on the wrong side of the Town’s solid-waste expectations. Key local links: Recycling Information – “Recycling is mandatory…” · Chapter 409 – Solid Waste (including §409-7 & §409-10) |
| Londonderry, NH | Yes – Multi-family recycling ordinance (>4 units) |
Section IX – Recycling, Multi Family Complexes of Londonderry’s Solid Waste/Recycling ordinance requires that the owners or responsible managers of all multi-family dwelling complexes of more than four (4) family units “provide a dumpster or other adequate means or facilities for their residents to participate in the Town’s recycling program” as part of solid-waste removal. Failure to comply can lead to termination of Town collection and disposal services for the complex, and violations are punishable as a “violation” under RSA 31:39, III with potential fines up to $1,000 per offense, as determined by the Town. Key local links: Ordinance 2013-03 – Solid Waste / Recycling & Section IX · Town of Londonderry – Official Site |
| Other Rockingham County Towns (e.g., Exeter, Windham, Derry, Hampton, etc.) |
No county-wide apartment recycling mandate |
Across the rest of Rockingham County, apartment and multifamily recycling is governed at the town level. Many communities operate transfer stations or curbside collection programs, often emphasizing recycling and household hazardous waste collection through regional partners like the Rockingham Planning Commission, but do not have explicit apartment recycling ordinances with unit thresholds and fines comparable to Londonderry’s multi-family section. For apartment owners and property managers in these communities, the primary compliance risks are:
|
Salem & Londonderry Fines & Penalties Snapshot
- Salem Civil Penalties (Chapter 409): Under §409-10 Violations and penalties, Salem is authorized, via RSA 149-M:17, II(b), to levy a civil penalty of up to $3,000 for each act that violates Chapter 409, in addition to revoking transfer-station permits under §409-9 and recovering cleanup costs or damages.
- Salem Permit Revocation: Failure to separate recyclables as required by §409-7 Recycling, or repeated violations of transfer-station rules, can result in 6–12 month permit suspensions or permanent revocation, which effectively cuts off a resident or hauler from using the Town facility.
- Londonderry Termination of Service: For complexes of more than four units that do not provide adequate recycling facilities, Section IX(C) authorizes the Town to terminate collection and disposal services provided to the multi-family complex.
- Londonderry Monetary Penalties: Section X – Penalties for Offense states that a person, firm, or corporation convicted of violating any provision of the ordinance is guilty of a violation punishable under RSA 31:39, III, which allows towns to impose penalties up to $1,000 per offense.
- State-Level Overlay: NH towns may also employ administrative enforcement tools under RSA 31:39-c (e.g., mailed notices of violation, escalating penalty schedules), provided no single offense exceeds the RSA 31:39, III maximum. This gives local code officers additional leverage to address chronic issues at multifamily sites.
- Risk Management Tip for Property Managers: Keep a compliance file with hauler contracts, service logs, photos of enclosures, and resident education pieces. This documentation helps demonstrate good-faith compliance if Salem, Londonderry, or state regulators raise concerns.
Salem & Londonderry Multifamily Recycling Compliance Checklist
| Task | Action / Requirement | Helpful Links |
|---|---|---|
| ☑ Confirm Jurisdiction, Units & Service Type | Verify whether your community is in Salem or Londonderry and confirm your total number of dwelling units and how waste is collected (Town service vs private hauler). If you operate in Londonderry and have more than four (4) units, you fall under Section IX – Recycling, Multi Family Complexes and must provide adequate recycling facilities for residents. |
Londonderry – Solid Waste/Recycling Ordinance Salem – Chapter 409 Solid Waste |
| ☑ Align Hauler Contracts with Local Rules |
In both Salem and Londonderry, private haulers are crucial partners. Ensure your contracts:
|
NH DES – Solid Waste & Facility Guidance |
| ☑ Provide Adequate Recycling Capacity & Access | For Londonderry complexes with >4 units, provide a recycling dumpster or clearly labeled carts in locations that are as convenient as trash. In Salem, work with your hauler to ensure residents have simple, visible access to single-stream recycling comparable to what the Town expects at the Transfer Station, reducing pressure on the facility and keeping residents compliant with Chapter 409’s mandatory recycling framework. |
Salem – Mandatory Recycling Info Londonderry – Solid Waste / Drop-Off Center Info |
| ☑ Build a Written Recycling Plan |
Create a site-specific recycling plan for each community that documents:
|
National Multifamily Recycling Best-Practices Guide |
| ☑ Resident Education & House Rules |
Provide clear, recurring resident education that uses the word “resident” (not “tenant”) and explains:
|
Salem – Accepted & Non-Recyclable Items |
| ☑ Document Service, Issues & Inspections |
Maintain a simple compliance binder or digital folder per property, including:
|
NH DES – Waste Reduction & Diversion |
Want your Salem or Londonderry community “inspection ready” without turning your property manager into a trash expert? Request a Free Compliance Audit for your Rockingham County property. We’ll review your current hauler setup, right-size containers and service, design a resident-friendly valet trash & recycling program, and prepare the inspector-ready documentation you need to show alignment with Salem Chapter 409, Londonderry’s multi-family recycling requirements, and New Hampshire’s solid-waste framework.
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