Except for the permit activities specified in Env-Sw 302.03 of the New Hampshire Solid Waste Rules, collection storage, transfer, processing and disposal of solid waste requires a permit from the Waste Management Division. Applications for solid waste activities should be directed to the Permitting & Design Review Section of the Solid Waste Management Bureau where they are processed. There are several different types of permits available and generally these require a specific application. These application types include:
The Standard Permit is the general permit required for most solid waste activities and all solid waste facilities that accept 30 tons of waste or more per day. There are some specific cases that may be permitted with a Permit-by-Notification, which are noted below. You will note that there is a great deal of information required to be submitted with the application including an operating plan, closure plan, engineered plans and specifications and financial assurance.
In general all landfills require a Standard Permit
Standard Permit Application Processing Provisions Flow Chart 
Standard Permit Application for Solid Waste Landfill 
A Standard Permit is required for commercial transfer stations and municipal transfer stations that accept 30 tons of waste or more per day
Standard Permit Application for Solid Waste Collection/Storage/Transfer Facility
A Standard Permit is required to operate a solid waste processing facility, composting facility or incinerator
Standard Permit Application for Solid Waste Processing/Treatment Facility
Important Note
Applicants for standard permits are required to undergo a background check by the Department of Justice. All applicants are required to fill out a Business Concern Disclosure Statement and a Personal History Disclosure Form for all officers, partners, directors, supervisory personnel and individuals holding 10% or more of the applicant’s equity or debt. Submit these forms directly to the Department of Justice.
Certain small-scale facilities and activities that pose little or no threat to human health or the environment may be permitted by a Permit-by-Notification. There are several facility categories that fall under the Permit-by-Notification, which are listed below. It is the intention of the Department to process Permits-by Notification in a timely fashion.
Municipal transfer stations that receive less than 30 tons per day of waste are eligible for a Permit-by-notification.
Permit-by-notification for Limited Public Solid Waste Transfer Station/Recycling Facility
Food waste composting facilities that incorporate no more than 20% of food waste in the compost mixture, limited to vegetable and bakery waste.
Permit-by-notification for Small Food Waste Composting Facility
Facilities that produce certified waste derived products from processed non-select recyclable material.
Truck transfer stations per Env-Sw 407.05 of the Solid Waste Rules for each location that the truck uses for collection. A collection truck can be temporarily parked at a site where persons may deliver waste from off-site locations.
Permit-by-notification for Truck Transfer Stations
Scrap Metal Collection and Recycling Centers
Permit-by-notification for Scrap Metal Collection and Recycling Centers
The following facilities may also be eligible for permits-by-notification. Application forms for these facilities are not available at this time and therefore it is necessary to follow the application procedures outlined in Env-Sw 311 and Env-Sw 303.
Permit by Notification For Collection Center for Select Recyclables - Collection centers for select recyclables per Env-Sw 407.03 of the Solid Waste Rules if the recyclables are the only material received by the facility and the recyclables have been separated by material type prior to delivery to the facility.
Infectious waste treatment facilities/incinerators per Env-Sw 507.02 of the Solid Waste Rules provided that the facility serves only the health care facility itself, affiliated health care facilities and households within the community served by the health care facility.
There are five types of permit modifications available to modify the terms and conditions of a permit or to modify the physical layout or operation of a solid waste facility.
- Type I Modification is the general permit modification type and most modifications will fall into this category. The type I permit modification has two subcategories: Type I-a is for modifications that have the potential to affect the facility’s ability to provide a substantial public benefit per RSA 149-M:11. Examples of type 1-a modifications are increasing the design capacity, reducing the operating life of a facility, changing the facility service area and changing the facility operations to a method lower on the RSA 149-M:3 hierarchy. Type I-b modifications are general modifications that do not have the potential to affect the facility’s ability to provide a substantial public benefit per RSA 149-M:11.
- Type II Modification is used to incorporate plans and specifications by reference, which are submitted as the result of a specific permit condition. Examples are final design, closure, and operating plans and financial assurance documents.
- Type III Modification provides a list of modifications that require only a notification to the Department.
- Type IV Modification is used to transfer the permit to a new permittee.
- Type V Modification is used to allow facility records to be stored off-site or destroyed.
If strict compliance with a particular rule would cause a hardship to the permittee or result in an adverse effect on the environment or public health and safety, a waiver to the particular rule may be granted. The applicant must fill out an Application for Waiver and submit any supporting documentation.
- For Solid Waste Management Facilities
Notice of Intent to Construct
Notice of Intent to Operate
- For Landfills not Operated after July 9, 1981
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