In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Dave Dinzeo of the Solid Waste Advisory Committee and Bill Stafford about Dover's transition from a bag-and-tag waste collection system to an automated collection system using wheeled containers ("toters"). The conversation explores how Dover's solid waste management has evolved over 35 years, from primarily using landfills to implementing successful recycling programs. They discuss the upcoming changes to the city's waste collection contract with Waste Management, which includes a two-year extension of the current bag-and-tag system and a transition to automated collection using 64-gallon toters for trash and recycling. The speakers explain that industry-wide shifts toward automation, safety concerns, labor shortages, and rising disposal costs drive this change. They detail how the new system will work, including the transition from per-bag fees to quarterly utility billing, eligibility requirements (limited to single-family homes and buildings with up to three units), and the continued operation of Dover's recycling center. The discussion also addresses concerns about the loss of pay-as-you-throw incentives and the need for extensive community education during the transition. The City Council held a workshop on the topic on Jan. 8, 2025, which can be viewed at https://dovernh.viebit.com/watch?hash=fbHZ3Uz8eo9L4HU2. The City Council is expected to vote on the contract extension and recommended transitioning to an automated system at its next meeting on Jan. 15.
In This Week in Dover History, we learn about a solitary pine tree that in 1908 stood as the last reminder of a magnificent forest that once surrounded Dover's first high school on Chestnut Street. The segment discusses the historic grove's significance, including its connection to the tragic "sham battle" of 1676, and traces the area's transformation through urban development.
