New Hampshire Lawmakers Debate Landfill Regulations

Proposals range from creating a site evaluation committee to limiting out-of-state waste, but consensus remains elusive.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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New Hampshire lawmakers have put forward several proposals to reform the state's landfill regulations, including creating a new site evaluation committee, limiting out-of-state waste, and expanding the criteria the Department of Environmental Services considers when reviewing new landfill applications. However, finding a consensus on these measures has proven difficult, with differing views on the balance between increased disposal capacity and local control, as well as the priority of factors like environmental protection and economic benefits.

Why it matters

The debate over landfill regulations in New Hampshire reflects the ongoing tension between private waste disposal companies seeking expanded capacity and communities concerned about the health and environmental impacts of landfills. The outcome of these legislative efforts could have significant implications for the state's waste management system and the ability of local communities to have a say in landfill development.

The details

Several bills have been introduced in the New Hampshire legislature this session to address landfill regulations. The proposals include creating a seven-member site evaluation committee to review new landfill applications, with differing views on who should serve on the committee and what factors it should prioritize. Other measures seek to limit the amount of out-of-state waste accepted at landfills or expand the criteria the Department of Environmental Services must consider when reviewing applications. However, some bills have also included language that would favor landfill expansions over new development, raising concerns about local control.

  • The legislative session in New Hampshire is well underway as of March 2026.
  • In February 2025, Gov. Kelly Ayotte requested a new site evaluation committee and a one-year moratorium on new landfill construction, but neither measure has materialized.
  • The current legislative proposals, if they advance, will cross over to the other chamber at the end of March 2026.

The players

Kelly Ayotte

The governor of New Hampshire who requested a new site evaluation committee and a one-year moratorium on new landfill construction in February 2025.

Michael Wimsatt

The director of the Waste Management Division at the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, who testified that some of the impacts of a landfill fall outside the department's purview.

Peter Bixby

A Democratic representative from Dover who is the prime sponsor of House Bill 1189, which calls for the chair of the New Hampshire Waste Management Council to serve as chair of the proposed site evaluation committee.

David Rochefort

A Republican senator from Littleton who is the prime sponsor of Senate Bill 536, which also calls for the Waste Management Council chair to serve as chair of the site evaluation committee.

Howard Pearl

A Republican senator from Loudon who proposed an amendment to House Bill 707 that would establish a preference for landfill expansions over new development.

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What they’re saying

“We have a compelling interest, for the state, to make sure that we have good landfill siting, and the management of that, in place.”

— Howard Pearl, Senator (New Hampshire Bulletin)

“We have a compelling interest, for the state, to make sure that we have good landfill siting, and the management of that, in place.”

— Howard Pearl, Senator (New Hampshire Bulletin)

What’s next

The site evaluation committee proposals and other landfill-related bills are still being workshopped in committees, and the differences between the House and Senate versions will need to be reconciled before any measures can be passed into law.

The takeaway

The debate over landfill regulations in New Hampshire highlights the ongoing tension between the need for increased waste disposal capacity and the concerns of local communities about the potential health and environmental impacts of landfills. Finding a balance between these competing interests remains a challenge for state lawmakers.