Zoning ordinance overhaul meeting
The City of Concord is undertaking an overhaul of its zoning ordinance. The public kick-off meeting for the project will be held Feb. 7 from 6 to 8 p.m. in City Council Chambers. All are welcome to come and participate.
The new ordinance will be an engaging, illustrated document that will clearly guide new development with a “character-based” approach to zoning regulation. The project is intended to be completed over two years. The first year will focus on transitioning to character based districts for the downtown commercial and residential neighborhoods of Concord and Penacook, along with the reorganization of the existing code into a character based zoning format. The second year will focus on creating a new vision and codes for the commercial corridors, transitional areas and performance districts. The process will include public participation in the form of community meetings, design charrettes and online methods of gathering feedback and sharing project deliverables.
Come meet our consultants and learn about the project. Code Studio, from Austin, Texas, will be in Concord to hold the public kick off meeting, conduct a series of stakeholder interviews and tour the city. A project website is forthcoming.
Heather Shank
No plastic bags in your recycling
Plastic film, such as plastic bags, is the leading source of recycling contamination and is not recyclable through curbside collection in Concord.
Although plastic bags can be recycled, they require a designated collection system and specific processing equipment, and therefore cannot be included in a single stream recycling program. Plastic bags need to be kept out of the recycling stream and instead should be recycled at local retailers.
Plastic bags should not be placed in with recyclable materials, and recyclables should not be placed inside of plastic bags.
Zero-Sort single-stream recycling in Concord has made recycling quick and easy for residents without the need to sort materials. Instead, Casella Waste Systems, the city’s solid waste contractor, sorts materials at their recycling facilities to be marketed and sold for manufacturing into new products. However, these recycling facilities face serious challenges with contaminants, such as plastic film, clogging equipment and slowing down processing. Often times the plastic film can also get mixed in and contaminate other materials.
Due to this increased contamination at sorting facilities, a lower tolerance for contaminants has been established in the recycling industry as a whole.
“This is an issue that has been worsening, which results in a decreased value of recyclables,” said David Allen, division manager for Casella Waste Systems. “This is causing a decline in the recycling market because buyers only want to purchase the highest quality of raw materials, making it difficult to market.”
Trash collectors in the entire industry are working harder to keep recycling loads contamination-free by proactively not collecting unacceptable materials.
“Concord residents may notice decreased leniency from collectors,” said Adam Clark, solid waste manager for the City of Concord. “It is best for residents to be proactive. Check recyclables and remove any items that are not accepted curbside, such as plastic bags.”
Any recycling bins that contain unacceptable items will be rejected at the curb and will be marked with a non-compliance sticker alerting the resident of unacceptable items.
The city of Concord and Casella Waste Systems are launching the campaign “Concord Recycles: One Bin – No Bags” to engage the community on this initiative. The campaign logo communicates that Concord utilizes Zero-Sort single-stream recycling that does not require multiple bins for recycling sorting. Instead, all recycling materials can be placed freely in the same bin.
At the same time, the logo stresses to not use bags to contain recyclables and to not place plastic bags in with recycling. This new logo will likely appear on future marketing materials to further promote that plastic bags are not for use with curbside recycling.
The city of Concord is implementing another initiative to reduce recycling contamination by improving identification of recycling dumpster containers with blue lids. Blue is the most commonly used color for public recycling containers and it will help designate the proper bins to dispose of waste and recycle materials. This change will be reflected for downtown and multi-family dumpsters.
Compliance to avoid contamination is necessary to maintain sustainable recycling markets and cooperation is appreciated. Find more information about recycling and acceptable items at concordnh.gov/recycling.
Angelina Zulkic
Scholarships open to juniors/seniors
In partnership with outstanding business leaders from New Hampshire companies, The NHHEAF Network Organizations announces its College Equals Opportunity Scholarship program is accepting applications through April 20.
This annual scholarship program awards $2,500 scholarships to rising college juniors and seniors from New Hampshire with demonstrated outstanding leadership abilities, commitment to community service and academic excellence.
Eligible college students must be: a New Hampshire resident, although may attend college out-of-state; Enrolled as a full-time student; achieving junior or senior grade level by fall 2018 and must be enrolled for entire 2018-19 academic year; an applicant for financial aid by submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for upcoming school year; attaining a GPA of 2.5 or higher at the time of application.
Since its inception in 2005, the CEO Scholarship program has awarded $367,500 in college scholarships to 88 college student leaders from the state of New Hampshire.
For more information about the program or to nominate a business leader to participate in the program as a supporter, visit nhceo.biz or check out NHHEAF at nhheaf.org.
Tori Berube
Singing bowls at NHTI’s Wings
On Feb. 6 at 6 p.m. in the Library Living Room, NHTI presents the next event in its Wings of Knowledge lecture series for the 2017-18 academic year.
Dr. Carlos A. Perez of Back in Motion will discuss and demonstrate creating balance in people’s lives by offering guided sound therapy meditations using crystal and Tibetan singing bowls.
Later next month, Wings of Knowledge will celebrate National Engineer’s Week on Feb. 20.
All events are free and open to the public. The series supports and expands upon NHTI’s wide variety of academic offerings. For further information, call 230-4028 or visit nhti.edu/wings.
Doug Schwarz
Grief discussion at Hospice House
Concord Regional VNA is offering a Newly Bereaved Discussion Group on Feb. 6 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Concord Regional VNA Hospice House, 240 Pleasant St. Groups are held on the first Tuesday of each month at the same time.
This session provides grief education and support for those who have experienced the recent loss of a loved one. Registration is not required.
For more information, call 224-4093 or 1-800-924-8620, ext. 2828, or email carmella.dow@crvna.org.
Andy Morse
