Environmental Commission Members

 Chairman - Joellyn Brazile

Vice Chairman -  Estelle Sheahan

 Secretary - Melissa Chanthalangsy

 George Mayo

Tom Richardson

 Jack Shepherd

 Sheila Bentley

June Viviano

2009 Arbor Day Ceremony

Johnson Park Level 1 Arboretum

Environmentally friendly ways to manage yard waste

Residential Recycling Guidelines

Grass Recycling Guide

13 simple ways to save on fuel

Do you know where your water goes?

Did you know the Town of Collierville has two separate sewer systems?

Do you know what pollution is?

Come and learn the answers to these questions and more!

HARREL PERFORMING ARTS THEATRE

Thursday, November 19, 2009

7:00 – 8:30 PM

Presentations by

Mr. Terry Templeton

Division of Water Pollution Control

Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation

Mr. Mike Banker

Town of Collierville Storm Water Coordinator

Mr. Clay Holabird

Town of Collierville Wastewater Treatment Plant

 Earth Day Poster Contest Winners

 This year the Environmental Commission sponsored an Earth Day poster contest for all local and private Collierville Schools, this years poster theme was "rethink and Replensih". A total of five schools participated in the poster contest, Crosswinds Elementary, Sycamore Elementary, Bailey Station Elementary, Schilling Middle, and Incarnation. All first, second, and thrid place winners where awarded a VIP ticket to see the new Disney Movie "EARTH" a movie that focuses on eco awarness and sustainable living.

1st Place Earth Day Poster Contest winners.

 Earth Day Poster Contest 1st, 2nd , and 3rd place winners.

Collierville Arbor Day Ceremony

On March 6, 2009  The Town of Collierville Environmental Commission planted a Gingko Tree for the annual Arbor Day celebration on the Town Square. A representative from the TN Department of Forestry for West TN also attended and presented the Town with it's 2009 renewal for the Town's Tree City USA designation. 

>Back

 Tree's make a difference. Now your car can, too.

1. Limit your idling time. Avoid excessive sitting and idling. Try not to travel during times of heavy traffic if possible.

2. Check your tire pressure. Statistics show that improperly inflated tires account for 4% - 7% of a cars fuel consumption. Tires under inflated by 4 - 5 psi will increase fuel consumption by 10%

3. Remove debris and excess items in your vehicle that could add additional weight to your vehicle. Every 200lbs reduces a vehicles fuel economy by 1 MPG.

4. Use your windows and air conditioning wisely. Keeping your windows closed at speeds above 35 miles per hour to improve your mileage by reducing wind resistance. Don't use your Air conditioning unless it is necessary, A/C reduces fuel economy by 10% - 20%.

5. Perform vehicle maintenance on intervals recommend by your vehicles manufacturer. A well maintained vehicle operates more efficiently and will get better fuel mileage. Check your fluids regularly to ensure they are filled to the proper levels.

6. Fuel at the right time. Fill up early in the morning when temperatures are cool. Most fuel storage tanks are held underground and the colder the ground the more dense the fuel. Fill up your tank when it's half full instead of waiting till it is almost empty. The less air in your fuel tank the better, fuel evaporates fast which means the more you put in your tank the less you will loose to evaporation.

7. Eliminate purchasing premium fuel if possible. Premium fuel contains 30% more greenhouse emissions when compared to regular unleaded fuel and does not effect performance.

8. Park your vehicle in the shade. When vehicles are parked in the hot sun it increases fuel evaporation and also causes the air conditioner to work harder to cool down the vehicle.

9. Use nitrogen filled tires. Nitrogen filled tires assist the tire in maintaining its proper pressure over a longer period of time.

10. Use mass transit or car pooling when possible. This reduces traffic and limits the amount of green house gases by reducing the number of vehicles on the road.

11. Utilize a GPS navigation system. By planning out your route ahead of time and using the most direct route with the least traffic you can reduce the amount of fuel used when traveling.

12. Drive Gently. Avoid any sudden accelerations and jerky stop and go driving. By driving gently you reduce wasted fuel needed for hard acceleration and reduce wear on your engine.

13. Observe the speed limit. There is a 10% - 15% improvement in fuel economy if one drives 55 MPH instead of 65 MPH.

For more information on improving your fuel efficiency click here.

Johnson Park Arboretum

"Arboretum recieves Level 1 certification"
08-15-08

"Peterson Lake Nature Center Entrance"

"George D. Mayo - Environmental Commission Chairman and John Fox - Public Services Department with the arboretum certification sign presented by theTennesseeDepartment of Argriculture."

The Peterson Lake Nature Center Arboretum is located on 135 acres in Johnson Park in Collierville, Tennessee. The arboretum was certified by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture on August 3rd 2008.

"Arboretum Location at W.C. Johnson Park"

There is a diversity of bottomland hardwood trees that are located along the boardwalk and wetland area of the park. In addition to these native species, a few species of cultivars have been planted within the park and arboretum area. There are a total of thirty-one trees that have been included in the Level 1 Arboretum.

"Pictures of various trees located throughout the Arboretum"

The Tennessee Arboretum Level 1 certification process required that the Town have a site open to the public with a minimum of 30 different species of trees labeled with both their common and scientific names.

"Clay Ticer - Public Services"

"Examples of tree labels found throughout the Arboretum"

During the certification process training was provided to members of the Parks and Recreation Department and Public Service Department on the proper management and care of trees found in the arboretum along with a brochure that will be available to the public that gives detailed information on the various trees throughout the arboretum.

"Susan Murray - Urban Forester, giving a class on proper forestry maintenance techqniques to Public Service and Parks & Recreation employees."

"Town employees learning proper pruning techniques"

The Arboretum brochure is currently available for download online and will be made available at the Town Library. The brochure will give residents the opportunity to journey through the arboretum on a self guided tour and will provide a checklist of trees with both fun and educational information.

"Download Arboretum Brochure"

With the Level 1 Arboretum certification Collierville will have an arboretum that is a wonderful place where the forest is the outdoor classroom. This arboretum will give both school children and people of all ages an educational opportunity and setting that is natural and peaceful that everyone will enjoy.

"Crape Myrtle - Lagerstroemia indica var. Natchez"

"Sweetbay Magonlia - Magnolia Virginiana"

Environmental friendly Alternatives to Loose Leaf and Bagged Leaf Collection

Last year our town generated approximately 13,355 tons of solid waste associated with the collection of loose leaves, bagged leaves and bagged grass. Of that 13,355 tons 12,473 tons where sent to a landfill and 882 tons where composted. Bagging these materials and placing them into the curbside garbage collection system uses valuable landfill space, removes nutrients from the environment, and costs the Town and citizens more in increased taxes and service fees.

Of the landscape waste, approximately half is composed of tree leaves. Mulching is a simple and effective way to recycle leaves and improve your landscape. A light covering of leaves can be mowed, without the catch-bag, leaving shredded leaves in place on the lawn. This technique is most effective when a mulching mower is used.

During times of light leaf drop, or if there are only a few small trees in your landscape, this technique is the most efficient and easiest way to manage leaf accumulation. As organic mulch decomposes, valuable nutrients are released for use by landscape plants. The tree leaves that accumulate in and around a landscape represents a valuable natural resource that can be used to provide a good source of organic matter and nutrients for use in a landscape.

Leaves contain 50-80% of the nutrients a plant extracts from the soil and air during the growing season. Leaves may be collected and worked directly into garden and flowerbed soils. A 6-8 inch layer of leaves tilled into a heavy, clay soil will improve aeration and drainage. The same amount tilled into a light, sandy soil will improve water and nutrient holding capacity. In vegetable gardens and annual planting beds, collect and work leaves into the soil during the Fall. This allows sufficient time for the leaves to decompose prior to Spring planting.

For additional information call the Public Services Department at (901) 853-3215

GRASS-CYCLING GUIDE AND GRASS MOWING TIPS

Proper mowing is essential to grass-cycling and can increase lawn quality by 30% or more. Cut when grass is dry. Keep your mower sharp. Set your mower to cut at the proper height. Mow often enough so you never remove more than one-third of the lawn height each cut. You may have to mow every 5 days when your lawn is growing fast, but once every 10 days may be sufficient when turf is growing slowly.

All mowers can grass-cycle. Simply remove your mower's collection bag and properly block the discharge. Many manufacturers have attachments or special designs that improve a mower's grass-cycling performance. Check with your local retailer for more information.

MOWING HEIGHTS FOR VARIOUS TYPES OF GRASS

Kentucky Bluegrass....................................3.0"

Fescues & Ryegrass...................................3.0"

Bentgrass.................................................1.0"

Bermudagrass...................................1.0" - 1.5"

Zoysia...............................................0" - 1.5"

St. Augustine............................................3.0"

Bahiagrass................................................3.0"

Centipedegrass..........................................1.5"

WATERING PLAN

Established lawns need irrigation to supplement natural rainfall. They require more water in hot weather, but may require water in dry cool periods as well. In hot dry weather, lawns may need as much as one inch of water every 5 to 7 days. That's equal to three hours of watering time with the typical lawn sprinkler. Avoid watering in evenings as this practice encourages disease. The best time to water is early morning.

FERTILIZE PROPERLY

Lawns need properly timed fertilizer applications to become dense and green. Over fertilization weakens your lawn and causes excess top growth. Grass-cycling, in conjunction with proper fertilization, enhances the health of your lawn.

For more even growth when using medium to full rates, use fertilizers containing methylene urea, urea-formaldehyde, sulfur coated urea, IBDU, or other slowly available organic forms of nitrogen.

FERTILIZER PLAN FOR YOUR LAWN

FERTILIZATION GUIDE FOR VARIOUS GRASS TYPES BY CLIMATIC ZONE

Rates

Fertilizer lbs. per 1,000 sq. feet

WHY GRASS-CYCLING?

Grass-cycling is the natural recycling of grass clippings by leaving them on the lawn when mowing. It is a simple and effective way to help conserve landfill capacity, while saving time, work, and money. And the benefit is a greener, healthier lawn.

GRASS-CYCLING DOES NOT CAUSE THATCH BUILD-UP IN THE LAWN

An eleven-year study at the USDA research station in Beltsville, Maryland, showed that thatch is composed primarily of grass roots, not clippings. Clippings left on the lawn decay quickly and release valuable nutrients back to the established grass.

GRASS-CYCLING DOES NOT SPREAD LAWN DISEASES

Watering, fertilization, and sharpness of the mower blade have a much greater influence on the occurrence of disease than grass-cycling.

GRASS-CYCLING SAVES TIME AND WORK

A recent study in Fort Worth, Texas, found that homeowners who quit bagging their clippings saved an average of 35 minutes per mowing or seven hours of yard work over a six-month period.

GRASS-CYCLING CAN BE DONE WITH ANY LAWN MOWER

No special equipment is necessary to grass-cycle. However, many manufacturers have attachments that improve your mower's grass-cycling performance.

GRASS-CYCLING IS A PROVEN AND EFFECTIVE METHOD OF LAWN MANAGEMENT

It also provides an environmentally important opportunity for everyone to participate in curbside waste reduction.

You CAN recycle:

You CANNOT recycle:

All large bulk items will be picked up on normal garbage days. All appliance pickups must be scheduled. Call (901) 853-3215