Lakes Region household hazardous waste collections start June 20

The Lakes Region Planning Commission will be hosting its annual Lakes Region Household Hazardous Waste collections again in 2026.

This year’s event will feature six collection dates and nine collection sites that any resident may attend. The season will kickoff on Saturday, June 20, with collection sites in Franklin and Wolfeboro. The collection season will end on Saturday, Sept. 19, with the final collection in Laconia. This year the collections will be open to residents and taxpayers in 22 participating Lakes Region communities.

There is a variety of toxic and harmful materials that can be found in Lakes Region homes. These toxic materials are known as hazardous waste substances that can poison or contaminate our local environment like surface, ground or drinking water. Materials may include flammables, corrosive or reactive substances that can be found in your household, gardening supplies, garage, workbench or art supplies. Toxic materials that pose ground water contamination threats are not allowed at local transfer stations. This is important for protecting human health and the water quality upon which the Lakes Region economy depends.

In addition to the June 20 collections in Franklin and Wolfeboro, collections will also be held on Saturday, July 25, in Gilford and Meredith; Saturday, Aug. 1, in Alton and Moultonborough; Thursday, Aug. 27, in Tuftonboro; Thursday, Sept. 3, in Bristol; and Saturday, Sept. 19, in Laconia. Saturday collections will run from 8:30 a.m to noon, and Thursday collections will run from 2 to 6 p.m.

Residents and residential taxpayers in the 22 participating communities may bring up to 10 gallons or 50 pounds of household hazardous products for safe disposal at the most convenient collection site.

Participating communities this year are Alton, Alexandria, Andover, Bridgewater, Bristol, Center Harbor, Franklin, Gilford, Gilmanton, Hebron, Hill, Holderness, Laconia, Meredith, Moultonborough, New Hampton, Sanbornton, Sandwich, Tamworth, Tilton, Tuftonboro, and Wolfeboro.

For more details, visit lakesrpc.nh.gov/household-hazardous-waste-program.