Master Composter Class

The City of Grand Prairie will be offering a new master composter certification in partnership with the State of Texas Alliance for Recycling (STAR). STAR has accepted leadership of the program that was formerly administered by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).

Eligibility

To be eligible for certification, participants must complete 20 hours of education, 16 in-class and 4 out-of-class, as well as 20 hours of eligible volunteer activity, including composting at the Kirby Creek Nature Center.

Cost

The $25 Grand Prairie resident registration fee and $40 non-Grand Prairie resident registration fee includes the Rodale Book of Composting and lunch. Checks must be made payable to the city of Grand Prairie. There must be a minimum of 10 participants for the class to be held. Refunds will be issued if the class is cancelled.

Class Location

Sessions will be held at the landfill located at 1102 MacArthur Blvd. Additionally there will be a 4-hour field trip on another day TBD. 

Certification as a City of Grand Prairie Master Composter requires classroom training and 20 hours of unpaid volunteer community service in the area of composting. If you choose to volunteer for at least 20 hours at the Kirby Creek Garden, a compost thermometer will be provided free of cost upon completion.

Volunteer Activities

The following are suggested activities to complete the 20 hour volunteer requirement within a year of taking the class:

• Volunteering at the Kirby Creek Nature Center to help with the vegetable garden.
• Assigned reading in a composting book or magazine, with follow-up presentations or discussion.
• Meeting with City or Council of Governments officials to learn more about solid waste and composting services in your community, and related issues.
• Meeting with a local agent of the Texas Agricultural Extension Service to learn about the promotion of composting and other organic materials management programs in the county.
• Volunteering in other City of Grand Prairie programs related to composting and gardening.
• Staffing information booths on composting at public events.
• Making presentations on composting to interested groups or individuals.
• Conducting "how-to" workshops and trainings on composting.
• Establishing and constructing backyard composting demonstration sites.
• Speaking to local officials on the value of composting.
• Any other activity approved by the Recycling and Composting Coordinator.