12/16/2025 SWG Minutes

There was no public input.

Barry provided an update on CET’s free waste assessments for Bethlehem food establishments and the Littleton Food Co-op. The assessments have provided both reduced business expenses and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. As an example, he noted that one business will save thousands of dollars per year by reducing the number of hauler pick-ups of waste, and that a reduction in the number of hauler trips also reduces CO2 emissions.

Barry emailed a copy of the next, draft Just Be Greener edition to Bruce and Emma Sabella of CET, which sets forth a list of standard recommendations for businesses and residents to reduce their costs through greater waste reduction, recycling, and reduced hauler expenses. The edition was jointly prepared by the Group and the Transfer Station Committee, with review and approval by CET. It will be reviewed and approved at the January 7^th meeting of the Transfer Station Committee and then distributed. CET loved the draft and suggested two minor changes.

Finally, Barry noted that CET is still working with The Colonial Theatre in getting it a hauler for recyclables. The Group determined to await the results of this effort before considering whether there is any need for a future contribution to facilitate The Colonial’s future recycling program.

The on-going sale of a sustainable, plastic-free laundry detergent, through a partnership between the Group and the Littleton Co-op providing a $5 coupon discount, has been going well, and will continue until the end of the year. The Group has pledged to share the costs of this discount from its Tillitson Foundation grant. While there is no question that this promotion has resulted in a substantial increase in the sale of this product, Bruce suggested an important evaluation is to see whether this increase continues after the promotion ends. He also suggested the Group consider the possibility of promoting another sustainable product for the coming year.

The Group received a response from the New Hampshire Department of Transportation (DOT) to its letter requesting better practices to reduce the plastic temporary lane markers that often end up littering the environment. Bruce and Barry thought that the response was very positive. DOT acknowledged that there was a problem, that it has made some unsuccessful efforts to look for alternatives, and would welcome the Group’s offer to research and suggest better options. Paul has drafted a letter thanking DOT for its response, representing that the Group will follow up with research, and asking DOT to share guidance on the criteria the Department uses to evaluate alternatives, or a forum or staff contact for discussing possible pilot projects. Barry will send the letter to DOT. Paul has volunteered to do the research, and has already started to document some alternative.

Paul has contacted some solar power proponents who may be willing to provide a presentation at a future conversational group meeting at the Above the Notch establishment. When the Group gets a firm date for this meeting, he better be able to inquire as to their availability. Paul notes that the costs of solar installation are currently high and that it is unlikely that we can see further promotional efforts from the federal Administration. Barry noted that the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) provided a brief update on New Hampshire programs to encourage heat pumps. The programs involve providing some benefits to heat pump installers that they could pass on to consumers through lower costs, and the New Hampshire Department of Energy’s appliance rebate program. The New Hampshire Departments anticipate having the programs in place sometime during the spring. Barry suggested that perhaps we could add this to the conversational group meeting. He noted he is going to contact the NHDES about whether there might be small grants available that the Town could also use to have a few Town-wide mailings about heat pump and other state energy efficiency programs.

In January, Bruce will attempt to get a firm date from the Littleton Farmers’ Market so that the Group could set up a booth for a bicycle repair event where experts could teach persons how to repair bicycles when the Market reopens next year.

Bruce stated that that the Group has been making substantial progress in establishing a social media presence, through the efforts of Jess Donnelly. Barry noted that Andrea Knowles congratulated the Group at a recent Select Board meeting for setting up a site on Instagram, with some valuable sustainability tips. Bruce has seen the Instagram site rapidly increasing in followers, with approximately 120 when he looked last The Group has also set up a Group sustainability email account at [email protected]. He has provided Paul, Barry, and Andrea with the code, which is for account validation.

The Group approved the report that Barry prepared for inclusion in the Town’s Annual Report. Barry will forward it to Nicole and others for publication. Bruce noted that he has already sent a copy to the Tillotson Foundation to inform them about the extensive use of its $2,000 grant to the Group over the years. He received a very positive response back from the Foundation.

The Minutes of the last Group meeting were approved, and Barry will send them to Nicole.

The next meeting was set for January 27, 2026 at 5 PM.

The meeting adjourned at 5:34 PM.