The rejected proposal would have brought up to 130,000 tons of waste per year into a residential neighborhood. Photo: Shutterstock.
May 27, 2025 (Concord, NH) – The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services has denied a permit that would have allowed Acuity Management to convert its small Claremont recycling center into a massive construction and demolition waste site. The decision follows years of strong opposition from residents, local leaders, and advocates.
“This is a win for Claremont, where families made it clear their health and environment are not for sale,” said Heidi Trimarco, staff attorney at Conservation Law Foundation. “People came together to protect their neighborhoods – and it worked.”
The proposal failed every test: no community support, no local approvals, and no environmental safeguards.
“The community of Claremont organized for years against Acuity’s proposal- a facility that flunked every major legal and environmental test,” said Eva Westheimer, the northern region lead organizer with Slingshot. “There was no public benefit, no plan to manage toxic materials, and the threat of dozens of diesel trucks a day carrying hazardous debris through a residential area. This facility wasn’t just a bad idea – it was an unlawful one.”
CLF supported the effort by submitting legal comments, but this outcome belongs to the people of Claremont. Groups like Slingshot, A Better Claremont, and a broad coalition of local advocates led the charge – organizing opposition, challenging zoning changes, and showing up at every stage of the process.
The rejected proposal would have brought up to 130,000 tons of waste per year – about 2,500 times the site’s current volume – into a residential neighborhood, raising serious concerns about toxic runoff, truck traffic, and public health risks.
Experts are available for further comment.
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