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Hudson, NH Trash & Recycling: Recycling Rules (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Adopted
May 29, 1990, Ord. No. O90-2
Rule
Only town collector may take curbside recyclables
First offense fine
$25
Second offense fine
$50
Third+ offense fine
$250 to $500
Offense unit
Each residence taken from is separate offense

Summary

Hudson's Code Chapter 266 bars anyone except the town's own collection service from taking recyclables once a resident sets them at the curb. Adopted in 1990 as Ordinance No. O90-2, the chapter targets scavengers who strip curbside bins ahead of pickup. Violators face escalating fines up to $500 for repeat offenses, with each residence counted separately.

§ 266-2. Collection by unauthorized persons. From the time of placement of any recyclables at the curb of any resident, it shall be unlawful for any person, persons, firms or corporations to collect, remove or dispose of recyclables. Each such collection, removal or disposal in violation hereof from one or more residences shall constitute a separate and different offense. ... § 266-3. Violations and penalties. A person, persons, firm or corporation convicted of violating any provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of a violation, which is punishable as follows: A. For a first conviction, by a fine of $25. B. For a second conviction, by a fine of $50. C. For a third, and all subsequent convictions, by a fine of not less than $250 nor more than $500.

Full Breakdown

The Board of Selectmen's predecessor, the Town Council, adopted Chapter 266, Recycling, on May 29, 1990 as Ordinance No. O90-2, after unauthorized scavengers began stripping curbside recycling bins ahead of scheduled pickup. ' Section 266-2 turns that concern into an enforceable prohibition: from the moment recyclables are placed at a resident's curb, no person, firm or corporation may collect, remove or dispose of them except the town's own collection service. The chapter treats every separate residence stripped as its own offense, so a scavenger working several houses on one morning can rack up as many violations as houses visited.

Section 266-3 sets the penalty scale: a $25 fine for a first conviction, $50 for a second, and not less than $250 nor more than $500 for a third or any later conviction. The chapter cross-references Chapter 226 (Garbage, Rubbish and Refuse) and Chapter 245 (Landfill Facility) as related solid-waste provisions, but the anti-scavenging rule itself lives only in Chapter 266. The ordinance remains Hudson's own local mechanism for protecting curbside recyclable material rather than a restatement of any state statute.

Violations & Fines

A first conviction for taking curbside recyclables draws a $25 fine; a second conviction, $50; a third or any later conviction, not less than $250 nor more than $500 (§ 266-3). Each unauthorized collection, removal or disposal from a single residence counts as its own separate offense under § 266-2, so multiple households stripped in one sweep can produce multiple convictions and fines.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I take recyclables left at my neighbor's curb in Hudson, NH?
No. Once a Hudson resident sets recyclables out at the curb, § 266-2 makes it unlawful for anyone but the town's own collection service to take, remove or dispose of them. This applies to individuals, firms and corporations, and each residence taken from is treated as a separate offense under the ordinance.
What happens if I'm caught scavenging curbside recycling in Hudson?
Section 266-3 fines a first conviction $25, a second $50, and a third or later conviction not less than $250 nor more than $500. Because each residence counts as its own offense, stripping bins along several houses on one route can produce several convictions in a single day.
Where do Hudson residents put recyclables for collection?
Section 266-1 describes the program: residents place recyclables at curbside in designated containers, together with their normal trash, for pickup on the collection day assigned to their section of town. The chapter does not set a separate time window or container spec beyond that curbside placement.
When did Hudson adopt its recycling ordinance?
The Town Council adopted Chapter 266, Recycling, on May 29, 1990 as Ordinance No. O90-2, specifically to stop outside parties from taking curbside recyclables before the town's own program could collect them.

Sources & Official References

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