Dutchess County Environmental Managment Council

Bridging the gap between environmental policy and community outreach

  • Dutchess County Earth Day Event

    The County in partnership with The Environmental Cooperative at the Vassar Barns will be hosting an Earth Day Event. This free event, open to the public, will offer environmental education, interactive activities and community engagement. Residents of all ages are invited to participate and learn about ways to reduce waste, conserve resources and protect the…

  • Elemental Explorers

    Project Description Fifth-grade students from Brinckerhoff Elementary, Fishkill Elementary, Fishkill Plains Elementary, and James S. Evans Elementary participated in an engaging Project-Based Learning experience focused on the flow of matter and energy. Guided by their curiosity and supported by AP Biology students from John Jay High School serving as peer tutors, the students created detailed,…

  • Road Salt Reduction Grants Available

    As you know, in the last decade or so, the EMC has worked to promote reducing road salt use while keeping roads safe in winter. One of the impediments to implementing best management practices to reduce road salt is the upfront cost of new equipment. For the first time, NY is offering grants to municipalities…

  • Cost Benefit Analysis Brine vs. Rock Salt – Prepared by Dutchess County Environmental Management Council

    Summary Report

  • All about Septic Systems

    Your Septic System – What you need to know. Maintaining your Septic System How to conserve water in your home and yard. Your Septic System – What to know when you are buying or selling a home. Your Septic System – What to know when building or remodeling your home. What to do if your…

  • The 2024 Dutchess County Annual CAC & EMC Roundtable

  • Young Engineers Empowerment Program

    The Dutchess County EMC is partnering with HVEA Engineers and Peach Hill Park to run the pilot program of the Young Engineers Empowerment Program, where high school students learn valuable STEM skills while they design and build a new rain garden for stormwater management at Peach Hill Park. Day 1 – Students learned how to fly…

  • Great Opportunity to Build STEM Skills

  • Composting in Dutchess County

    Most of us at some point in our lives have been to a municipal dump. They are mostly pretty disgusting. All that trash we humans create goes somewhere – usually a landfill or waste-to-energy facility. Some of us leave those facilities thinking we’d like to do something to reduce what we send to the dump.…

  • Composting: An Ecological Perspective

    Join Cary ecologist Dr. Jane Lucas for a virtual science talk on the biology and ecology of composting. The presentation will include a demonstration on how you can start composting at home. Lecture is available on YouTube