Do You Know the DES Requirements for Your Facility Sign?

NRRA has recently been made aware that many of the towns inspected by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) over the past year have had violations on their facility signs.

It's important for you to check: IS YOUR SIGN COMPLIANT? 

Per NHDES rules ENV-Sw 1005.05 (b), the following needs to be included:

1. Facility Name and Permit Number

This is your facility name and permit number from your permit.

2. PERMITTEE Name, Address, and telephone number

This is a tricky one! Often times, the permittee information is different from the facility information. Usually, the PERMITTEE is the Town Office; your permit will have the permittee information.

(NRRA understands that having the permittee information on your main facility sign may be confusing for residents; we have passed this feedback on to the NH Department of Environmental Services as they review their current rules and will post updates accordingly.)

3. Days and hours that the facility is OPEN TO ACCEPT WASTE

This includes all days and hours you are accepting waste, not limited only to days when you are accepting waste from the public. We recommend posting another sign that states the “public hours” of your facility. 

(Again, NRRA understands that having hours that differ from your open-to-the-public hours on your main facility sign may be confusing for residents; we have passed this feedback on to the NH Department of Environmental Services as they review their current rules and will post updates accordingly.)

4. Types of wastes accepted

The wastes that need to be listed are the wastes that your facility chooses to accept from those listed on your permit, not necessarily all of the wastes listed on the permit as acceptable.

5. A statement that unlawful dumping will be subject to fine and prosecution.

What to do if your sign is not compliant:

If part or all of your sign needs to be updated to display the required information, you can visit the New Hampshire the Beautiful website for information on how to order a new facility sign or an overlay to update part of your sign. If you have questions about your sign, the changes needed to make sure it is compliant, and the best way to do so, you can also contact the NRRA offices directly by phone to speak with a staff member.