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Posted: June 20, 2005
The City of Plano Environmental Waste Services Division (EWS) was the recent
recipient of one of two Collaboration Awards presented to community partners
of the Collin County Community College (CCCC) District Learning Program.
“The award was given for the true commitment to quality service-learning
experiences we offer to students by allowing them to meet our volunteer
needs while providing reinforcement of the academic goals of their
coursework,” said Ms. Nancy Nevil, Environmental Waste Services Manager.
“Since 2001, the District Learning Program’s inception, we have been invited
to the Environmental Science classrooms each semester to make presentations
about our programs,” she continued. “Over 1,500 students have been made
aware of how Plano is responding to the issues of waste management, with
more than 125 students engaging in our work and events during this time.
This results in 1,875 volunteer hours for our EWS programs, while providing
the students with life experience of textbook issues and insight into the
responsible and sustainable management of environmental waste through our
City services.”
Environmental Waste Services Special Waste Supervisor Deb Bliss provides
classroom presentations providing overviews of the many EWS programs
designed for waste landfill diversion and responsible management of waste.
Covering programs such as the City’s award-winning composting and recycling
services, topics also include the innovative use of yard trimmings and
organic food waste as feed stock, electronics and appliance recycling,
household chemical special collection and reuse at the City’s reuse
facility, the Materials Exchange swap web site, litter and stormwater
issues.
In a twist to the typical guest speaker presentation, where information is
presented and reviewed, interested students have the opportunity to
volunteer to gain work experience in several environmental programs, which
are supplemented with their classroom textbook studies.
“Some of the students that get involved are planning to continue on in
environmental studies,” said Ms. Bliss, pictured above left with volunteer.
“For many, it’s their first exposure to environmental issues.”
Students are given the opportunity for challenging, leadership experiences.
Helping develop lessons and/or Discovery Boxes for the Kids in the Garden
Program; developing project design criteria for a Keep Plano Beautiful
project designed to help elderly, disabled or low income residents to
beautify their lawns; assisting with monthly Electronics Collection,
staffing of the Household Chemical Reuse Center and assisting with
environmental lessons are but a few of the opportunities provided students.
“Those students who become involved are often surprised and impressed with
our municipal environmental services, whether they are Plano residents and
unaware of our services, or whether they are comparing our programs to the
services of the city from which they came,” said Ms. Bliss. “The award was
given through the Center for Scholarly and Civic Engagement, a program of
the CCCC District. Dean Daphne Hall Babcock has been instrumental in
facilitating this relationship, which has been a win-win situation for the
students and the City of Plano.”
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