Sustainability
The City has long embraced green initiatives. When Evergy offered a renewable energy option, Merriam signed up. Several Merriam Police Department’s vehicles are hybrids, and in 2026, the City is adding electric vehicles to the fleet. We’ve earned the title of Tree City USA every year since 1985.
In 2021, Merriam City Councilmembers adopted the Kansas City Regional Climate Action Plan to continue our commitment toward building a more sustainable future. The same year, City employees created the Green Team to meet the Climate Action Plan’s goals and further the City’s green impact.
Other sustainability initiatives include:
- Programs for residents such as the Residential Sustainability Grant, free tree grant, and Contain the Rain program.
- Host an annual recycling event for electronics and paper shredding.
- Partner with neighbor cities on the Go Green Fair.
- Planting a tree at both elementary schools for Arbor Day every year.
- EV charging stations at City Hall, the Merriam Community Center, and Merriam Marketplace.
- LED lights in traffic signals, streetlights, and City buildings.
- Reduced energy consumption in buildings with programable thermostats and motion sensor lights.
- Digitize services to use less paper.
- Pollinator gardens at City Hall, Merriam Historic Plaza, along the Turkey Creek Streamway Trail, Merriam Drive, and Waterfall Park.
- Adopted an idle reduction policy for City vehicles.
- Adopted a complete streets ordinance for pedestrian and bike traffic.
Greener Living Guide for Residents
Apply for a Residential Sustainability Grant. Install energy saving systems, including solar panels, high efficiency HVAC, insulation, energy efficient windows and doors, and geothermal heating and cooling.
Plant a free tree in your yard! Apply for the Tree Grant and Heartland Tree Alliance will help you select, plant, and care for your new free tree.
Eat locally grown food. Shop at the Merriam Farmers' Market every Saturday, May–September.
Compost food scraps. You can get a $150 rebate from the City if you purchase a compost bin. Drop-off or curbside composting services are also available.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. The most effective way to reduce waste is to not create it in the first place! Reduction and reuse save natural resources, protect the environment, and save money.
Recycle curbside or find drop-off services on recyclespot.org. Make sure to let recycling items be loose in the bins – bagged items may end up in the landfill! Learn more on Johnson County's Recycling 101.
Recycle glass in the purple Ripple Glass bin at IKEA, or sign up for curbside collection.
Convert household lightbulbs to LED.
Build a rain garden, plant native trees, or get a rain barrel to help reduce stormwater runoff. The City's Contain the Rain provides a 50% match up to $2,250.
Use RideKC Micro Transit to share a lift with local riders. Merriam Town Center is now a featured destination!
Learn about electric vehicles, incentives, and how to charge through Plug-In KC.
Find a list of certified green organizations across Johnson County and connect with free sustainability consultants with the Johnson County Green Business Program.
Find tips on how to do a home energy audit, steps to weatherizing your home, tips for appliances, and many more resources to help you save energy at home on energy.gov.
Set up usage alerts and find tips on water and our environment at waterone.org.
Do a home energy analysis, compare with your neighbors, and find many ways to save at evergy.com. You can even subscribe to use wind energy for your home.
Save money with energy-savings tools and tips on kansasgasservice.com.