CONSERVATION NEWS From TILTON, NH                           

Fall-Winter 2024 Newsletter
                                                                                          

Rechargeable Lithium Batteries in the News (from NH DES)

Starting on July 1, 2025, rechargeable lithium-ion batteries will be prohibited from disposal in New Hampshire landfills and incinerators.
The following items may contain these batteries:

automobile vehicles - electric bikes and scooters - lawncare equipment
cell phones - laptops - cameras - tablets - wireless headphones
speakers - toothbrushes - cordless power tools - toys

Lithium-ion batteries contain hazardous metals and can cause safety hazrds when improperly managed. When crushed or damaged in any way, they can ignite
causing intense fires. For these reasons, lithium-ion batteries should never be put in the trash or curbside recycling bin. They have bcome a leading cause of fires for
trash handlers and waste mangement facilities. It is estimated that more than 5,000 fires occur at waste management facilities nationwide, many likely caused
by lithium-ion batteries. Fires are not only a safety hazard to waste staff and the public; they also can result in hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages to
expensive equipment and buildings.

In an effort to reduce the safety risks associated with the improper disposal of lithium-ion batteries, NH lawmakers voted to add them tothe list of wastes that
are banned from disposal, and Governor Sununu signed the bill into law. Starting in July, households and businesses must recycle their lithium-ion batteries instead
of putting them in the trash. These batteries will have to be recycled through special battery collection programs and never mixed with regular recyclables.
In Tilton, Staples, Lowe's and Home Depot offer collection boxes for recycling these batteries. Or, you can check Call2recycle.org to find other sites.
NH DES also offers information about batteries as well as the Managing My Waste site.

Winnisquam Watershed Network Update on Lake Winnisquam

"The good news is that Lake Winnisquam is considered to be an oligotropic lake. Oligotropic lakes are clear, have low concentrations of
phosphorus and algae, and can have a great diversity offish and wildlife. While the lake is not pristine, presently it is in relatively
  good condition. There are concerns forthe future, however. Phosphorus and algal concentrations appear to be increasing
while water clarity, at times, is decreasing. Conductivity in tributaries is sometimes elevated, likely the result of the use of road salt
in the watershed. Population growth and development (and redevelopment) along the shoreline and in the watershed is significant.
Invasive species (both plants and animal) have been found in the lake.

The bad news is that in recent years there have been blooms of cyanobacteria (formerly known as blue-green algae) in Lake Winnisquam.
This problem is not unique to Winnisquam, having occurred in several other New Hampshire lakes and other water bodies. Cyanobacteria
is a natural component of freshwater systems worldwide and, when conditions are right, blooms can occur..which are harmful to pets,
livestock, wildlife, and people. Cyanobacteria can cause both acute and chronic diseases.

The Winnisquam Watershed Network is working with a host of state and federal agencies, local governments, organizations, and
individuals to address cyanobacteria blooms and other concerns in Lake Winnisquam." The Tilton Conservation Commission is
pleased to have provided financial assistance to the WWN for their efforts to remove milfoil and other invasive species from the lake.
The TCC also used funds from the Improving and Maintaining Lakes Capital Reserve Fund previously established in 2007 to assist the
Silver Lake Association with their work in removing curly leaf pondweed from the Tilton portion of Silver Lake.

Buffalo Park

Once again, the Tilton Conservation Commission reminds residents that there is an amazing 55-acre property just minutes from downtown that is available
for walking the trails or snowshoeing when winter arrives. It is best accessed at the end of High Street Extension where there is a kiosk and a small parking
lot. Bring your cell phone or camera to take pictures. Bird watch. Try your hand at tree identification. Look for animal tracks. Try walking the different trails
which are marked. It's  chance to enjoy New England winter and get some exercise at the same time.