The Erie County Environmental Management Council (EMC) is an advisory board to the Erie County Department of Environment & Planning
The Council was established in the Erie County Charter in 1971 under Article 47 of the New York State Environmental Conservation Law. Members of the Council represent many of the cities, towns, and villages within Erie County, as well as 12 at-large members from throughout the County. Their mission is two-fold:
- Advise county government on local environmental concerns; and
- Provide a liaison between the community and county government.
Latest News:
- The Environmental Management Council congratulates its 2026 Environmental Excellence Award Winners, who were recognized at an award event that was part of the County's Earth Day Celebration on April 20. See below for descriptions of the award-winning projects.
About
The Erie County Environmental Management Council strives to effect environmental improvement within the inter-governmental system. EMC projects often take the form of studies that provide recommended courses of action of decision makers. Some of the highlighted accomplishments of the EMC include:
- Provide a resource for both the County of Erie, New York Executive and the Erie County Legislature in their understanding and resolution of environmental issues which affect the residents of Erie County
- Assisting the Western New York Stormwater Coalition in reaching out to inform and involve the public in assisting their municipalities in protecting and improving water quality in our waterbodies
- Developing brochures and other educational materials to encourage citizen's and governmental agencies to eliminate or reduce the use of chemical pesticides in caring for their lawns and gardens
- Helped co-sponsor, develop, and implement plans for public education efforts surrounding the 30th anniversary of Earth Day.
- Played a principal role in the phosphate detergents ban legislation (1974 - 1975)
- Lobbied for returnable container and deposit legislation
- Developed and delivered a training program for local elected officials, code enforcement officers and municipal planners to help them better use the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) to mitigate and avoid environmental impacts in their communities.
Annual Recommendations Reports
As part of its charge, the EMC submits an annual recommendation report to the County.
Please email sustainability@erie.gov for copies of the Annual Recommendation Report.
For 2023, Erie County's Community Climate Action Plan, which the EMC and its Community Climate Change Task Force played a major role in developing, serves as the EMC's Annual Recommendation Report.
The EMC Environmental Excellence Awards Program
Started in 2015, this program recognizes exceptional projects carried out by municipal and non-profit organizations in Erie County that stand to have a significant and lasting positive impact on the natural environment. The awards program is designed to showcase and promote projects that can be replicated in communities across Erie County and beyond. Projects could be in the areas of Planning & Design, Land Use and Zoning, Natural Resource Protection, Air and Water Quality, Ecosystem Health, Energy and Transportation, Agriculture and Forestry, Solid Waste Management, Contaminated Sites, Community Action & Education, Climate Change or any other related subject area. Application forms are released in January each year with applications due in early March and an award ceremony near Earth Day, at the end of April. Click here to learn about past year award winners.
2026 Award Event and Winners
The EMC was pleased to announce its 2026 Awardees at Erie County's Earth Day Celebration on April 20 at the Northland Workforce Training Center. This event was supported by a partnership between the Erie County Environmental Management Council, the Western New York Stormwater Coalition, the Omega Mentoring Program, and Erie County Department of Environment and Planning. The awards were presented by Deputy County Executive Lisa Chimera, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Amanda Lefton, and EMC Board President Brenda Young.
This year's winners are:
Operation Clean Sweep - a flagship City of Buffalo initiative that revitalizes neighborhoods by integrating environmental stewardship, blight removal, and community engagement. Through data-driven weekly operations, it restores public spaces and connects residents to vital services for lasting change.
Angel Gowns of WNY - a volunteer-led non-profit founded in 2014 that transforms donated wedding gowns into free burial garments for families who have lost infants. The organization has distributed over 32,000 gowns globally while successfully diverting thousands of pounds of textile waste from landfills.
The Pelion Outdoor Classroom and Community Garden - a living landscape that serves as a hub for environmental education, youth empowerment, and urban renewal. Connected to Buffalo’s City Honors School, it fosters community responsibility and provides a scalable model for outdoor learning throughout the Buffalo region.
Erie County Low Income Program for Sustainable Energy (ECLIPSE) - a new Erie County that program expands access to renewable energy and reduces electricity costs, specifically targeting renters and low-income residents for enrollment in community solar. Since 2025, it has enrolled over 2,500 participants who are projected to save a combined $7.6 million in utility costs over the life of the solar panels.
Learn about previous winners!
Healthy Lawns
The EMC has a Healthy Lawns Campaign called "A Safe Home for the Gnomes". Follow the link for details on how to reduce pesticide and other chemical inputs to your lawns and help make our community healthier.
Community Climate Change Task Force
The EMC established a Climate Change Task Force in 2019 to address this pressing issue. The Task Force was recognized by County Executive Mark Poloncarz in Executive Order 20.
EMC Community Climate Change Task Force Members
Resources
Natural Places of Erie County was produced by the Environmental Management Council and others.
This fold-out brochure includes a map of 44 of the County's natural places and a grid showing the amenities of each location.
Additional Information
For copies of the meeting minutes, upcoming agendas, or other information, please email Josh Wilson at Peter.Wilson@erie.gov