Posted: February 18, 2005
They say
when life hands you lemons you should simply smile and make lemonade. When
applied to Heather Merchant, that phrase takes a different bent. When life
handed her worms, rotting grass and yard debris, she simply smiled and made
compost.
As the City’s Compost Marketing and Education
Supervisor, Ms. Merchant, has helped Plano become a regional and state
leader in compost production and marketing, as well as turning backyard
composting into a major component in residential gardening for hundreds.
Her work in planning and promoting the City’s backyard
compost demonstration site, building a successful Master Composter Program,
development of the innovative and enjoyable Environmental Discovery Gardens
and Children’s Discovery Gardens has garnered national attention.
Officials from the United States Composting Council
recently named Ms. Merchant as the recipient of the H. Clark Gregory Award
for Outstanding Grassroots Efforts to Promote Composting.
In citing the award, the Composting Council advised
the City’s compost education has produced a program that benefits not only
the City, but seeks to serve as a role model for others. “The program has
benefited from a carefully thought-out and implemented approach to reaching
its targeted audiences and from the consistent, dedicated guidance of
Heather Merchant over the years,” they stated. “It is comprehensive in
scope, innovative in its approach, offers consistently high quality
programs, uses evaluative tracking measures and regularly establishes
partnerships.”
One of a handful of municipalities in the state to
operate a municipal compost site, Plano was a leader in diversion of
residential yard trimmings from the landfill, processing them into various
compost, soil enhancement and mulch products, marketed under the label
“Plano Pure.” This past year 19,636 tons of residential yard trimmings were
collected through the City’s weekly residential collection program, saving
valuable landfill space.
In 2004 the City finalized an agreement with the North
Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) to serve as regional contractor for
District member cities. Plano Pure products are currently sold through
several retail outlets, as well as through the City’s retail distribution
center at the NTMWD Custer Road facility.
Plano’s Environmental Discovery Gardens, located
adjacent the City’s Parkway Service Center, 4120 West Plano Parkway, offers
self-guided exhibits featuring various backyard compost methods and native
plant and organic gardening practices. The adjacent children’s garden
features interactive games and exhibits, including a butterfly garden.
Facilitated by Ms. Merchant, an enthusiastic staff and energetic,
environmentally dedicated volunteers, the Gardens is the site for many
educational presentations and public events throughout the year, including
the annual Kids in the Garden Fallfest and Texas SmartScape Showcase,
Free Master Composter training is offered throughout
the year, as well as Compost 101 classes, YardWise principles and other
educational offerings.
Ms. Merchant continues to expand the vision of
composting and marketing in the City of Plano through ongoing marketing
expansion, new educational programs, environmental camps and increased
volunteer involvement in programming. In addition to the H. Clark Gregory
Award, Ms. Merchant was also named the City of Plano 2004 Volunteers in
Plano Supervisor of the Year.
This past year the City’s compost marketing program
received the 2004 Solid Waste Association of North America Silver Excellence
Award as well as the Texas Municipal League Excellence Award. Also, the
National Gardening Association bestowed their 2004 Youth Garden Award to the
City in recognition of children garden programs with an emphasis on
environmental education and awareness.