Town of Durham New Hampshire

08/28/2026

Check out the latest news and happenings in Durham, NH in this week's "Friday Updates." https://icont.ac/51lGS

08/26/2026

Did You Know? 🌎

There are many reasons to opt out of paper receipts. Here are some examples of how store receipts impact people and the planet.

Environmental impacts

Every year, receipt use in the United States consumes over 3,680,000 trees and over 10 billion gallons of water. In addition, receipt production emits the greenhouse gas equivalent of over 471,000 cars on the road each year.

Chemical contamination

An estimated 93% of all paper receipts are printed on thermal paper coated with toxic chemicals like Bisphenol-A (BPA) or BPS that can transfer to your skin and are known as endocrine-disruptors.

Not Recyclable

The thermal paper coating reacts to heat and ruins recycled paper pulp, so receipts must go into the regular trash.Putting them in the recycling bin contaminates entire batches of recyclable paper.

Ways to Take Action

Sign up for digital receipts on retailer’s apps, websites, or in store.
Urge companies to improve receipt practices on social media ( ).
A little good news

Many retailers are already making the choice to offer a digital option and use non-toxic thermal paper, but the majority of stores still need to take action.

To learn more about Green America’s Skip the Slip campaign and latest report, please check out the link below:

https://share.google/L9fC3hqTuY28YK3qa

Source: GreenAmerica.org

Brought to you by the IWMAC Committee

Questions about recycling or composting? Email us at: [email protected]



Not sure if an item can be recycled? Checkhere: www.Recyclesmartma.org

Want to learn more about the Swap Shop? Check out this link:

https://swapshopdurham.wordpress.com/

Reduce | Reuse | Recycle

08/21/2026

Check out the latest news and happenings in Durham, NH in this week's "Friday Updates."

08/14/2026

Check other the latest news and happenings in Durham, NH in this week's "Friday Updates."

08/14/2026

Did You Know? 🌎

Label backing sheets such as the backing sheet from a page of address labels, the liner from a sheet of postage stamps, or the wax paper-like sheet from a roll of stickers, do not belong in recycling. Placing these items in the recycling bin contaminates cleaner paper streams.

What makes label backing sheets so hard to recycle?

The paper component of most label backing sheets is called glassine, a highly processed, translucent paper whose fibers have been flattened and aligned to create a smooth surface. Its compressed fibers yield very little usable pulp in the recycling process. The paper market relies on fiber strength, and glassine simply doesn’t have it.

The second problem is the coating. Label backing sheets are treated with a release agent — almost always silicone — that keeps labels from permanently bonding to the backing. This silicone layer is what allows you to peel cleanly and easily. It’s also what makes recycling nearly impossible; the coating can’t be removed without specialized processing. When it contaminates paper recycling streams, it degrades the quality of the pulp and can jam machinery.

For these reasons, please be sure to put all label backing sheets in the trash instead of recycling!

Source: Earth911

Brought to you by the IWMAC Committee

Questions about recycling or composting? Email us at: [email protected]



Not sure if an item can be recycled? Checkhere: www.Recyclesmartma.org

Want to learn more about the Swap Shop? Check out this link:

https://swapshopdurham.wordpress.com/

Reduce | Reuse | Recycle

08/07/2026

ROUTE 108 PAVING DELAYS - State Project, Not Town Construction

We recognize the understandable frustration expressed by residents and businesses regarding Thursday’s traffic congestion and the lack of advance notice. The Police Department and Town Hall received numerous calls from frustrated Durham and Seacoast residents.

Route 108 is a State highway, and this paving is being performed as part of an NHDOT project; the Town does not determine its schedule, traffic-control measures, or contractor operations.

Town staff had been advised that the work was expected to occur at night and were therefore also caught off guard when daytime paving began Thursday morning. This prevented the Town from providing residents and businesses with the advance notification we would normally seek to provide.

Thursday’s work created substantial delays and was further complicated when a construction flagger was struck by a vehicle. Town staff raised these concerns directly with the NHDOT Commissioner and NHDOT District 6, particularly given the disruption to residents, businesses, regional travelers, and the Durham Day event.

NHDOT has advised last evening that its contractor, Pike Industries, would resume paving operations on Route 108 today beginning at 4:00 a.m. and continuing until approximately 5:00 p.m. The work area extends from the Main Street/Route 108 intersection north toward Route 4, ending just beyond Jackson’s Landing/Old Piscataqua Road. Motorists should expect one-way alternating traffic, uniformed officers and flaggers, and potentially significant delays throughout the day. Please allow additional travel time or use alternate routes where possible.

08/07/2026

Check out the latest news and happenings in Durham, NH in this week's "Friday Updates."

08/06/2026

Durham Day - NHDOT Route 108 Newmarket Rd./Dover Rd. Paving Update

08/06/2026

Did You Know? 🌎

As we wrap up our focus on Plastic Free July, we hope you have found our tips helpful to cut back on plastic waste. These suggestions are designed to provide each of us an opportunity to make even one small change in our daily habits to help cut back on plastic pollution.

Here are a few more ways to make plastic-free choices:

Re-think soap.

Bar soaps come in different blends to suit body wash, face wash, shampoo and conditioner bars, and shaving bars. Making the switch from their liquid counterparts is an easy way to reduce consumption of single-use plastics. BONUS: Many suppliers use cardboard to package their bar soap which can be thrown in the recycling once used.

Check your sunscreen for microplastics.

Microplastics are tiny plastic particles that can be added to some sunscreens. These particles can enter the environment through wastewater and contribute to plastic pollution.

To avoid sunscreens with microplastics, look for products labeled as "microplastic-free" or "ocean-friendly." You can also check the ingredients list to see if it contains any of the following microplastic ingredients:

(NOTE: Not a complete list).

polyethylene

polypropylene

polyethylene terephthalate

polymethyl methacrylate

polylactic acid

nylon

Consider your shaving products.

Disposable razors and shaving cream packaged in plastic contributes to our growing landfill waste. Instead, more and more people are choosing to switch to shaving lotion bars and safety razors, which are generally made of stainless steel and have replaceable blades. While safety razors may be more expensive than disposable razors from the outset, in the long-run they can end up saving you money. Many companies now offer blade refills in cardboard boxes, making it a great way to avoid single-use plastic entirely.

Choose a better ice cream option.

It’s summer - the perfect time to stop by the Campus Creamery or your favorite ice cream establishment for a treat. Instead of ordering your ice cream in a cup with a spoon or as a frappe with a straw, order it on a cone with no plastic waste.

Source: PlasticfreeJuly.org

Brought to you by the IWMAC Committee

08/06/2026

MILL POND DAM REMOVAL UPDATE - Dam Breach and Fish Ladder Removal Complete

This week, SumCo worked on completing the dam and fish ladder demolition, preparing one cell of the dam to be preserved, and monitoring activities related to the recent rain event. Other week-to-week tasks include turbidity monitoring upstream and downstream of the work area and other general site preparation activities. Next week, SumCo will continue channel construction and downstream boulder placement.

While we understand the desire to watch the project and observe construction, the Town of Durham wants to emphasize that the Route 108 bridge over the Oyster River is a very dangerous place to stand and observe the project work. There is no sidewalk on this stretch of road, and this is a high traffic area where cars are not expecting to see pedestrians and bystanders in the roadway. Drivers distracted by the dam removal project compound the danger even further. Please use caution and common sense if you decide to try and observe the project work, for your safety and others.

An updated Frequently-Asked-Questions (FAQ) document has been prepared by the Town and is now available on the Town Website. Other general information about the project, including the decision to remove the dam, can be found in the January 26, 2022 FAQ .

More details about the project including the NHDES Wetlands Permit and Contract Documents. A hard copy of the Mill Pond Dam Feasibility Study and some supplemental information have been provided to the Durham Public Library and is accessible for public review.

Any questions regarding the project can be directed to Town Engineer April Talon, P.E. at 603-868-5578 or via email at [email protected]