Bedford council accepts $3,312 NHDES household hazardous-waste grant

The Bedford Town Council on March 16 accepted a $3,312 grant from the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services to support the town’s household hazardous-waste collection program and authorized the town manager to execute necessary agreements.

Brian DeFosse, the town’s director of public works, told the council the most recent collection event on July 12, 2025 served 273 vehicles and resulted in more than 21,800 pounds of hazardous materials properly collected and managed. He said the grant requires the town to match the award with local funds so that a minimum of $6,624 is spent; last year the town spent approximately $28,000 on the program.

DeFosse said the vendor for the service is MXI (New Jersey) and that other potential vendors were unresponsive during procurement efforts. He told the council staff expect to meet the match requirement and recommended acceptance of the grant. A motion to accept the grant, authorize the expenditure, and permit the town manager to sign the agreement passed by voice vote.

RSA 31:95-b (state statute) was cited in discussion as allowing the council to accept and expend the unanticipated funds at a public meeting; if a grant exceeded certain thresholds a public hearing would be required, staff said.