Erie County’s Earth Day Celebration took place today at the Northland Workforce Training Center in Buffalo, an event that was held in partnership with the Erie County Environmental Management Council, the Western New York Stormwater Coalition, and the Omega Mentoring Program.
First celebrated on April 22, 1970, Earth Day now includes a wide range of events and actions centered around helping people learn about and celebrate the part we play in protecting our environment. Erie County and the various community partners were pleased to offer an opportunity to honor our planet.
This family-friendly event featured several community groups offering environmentally friendly activities that included:
- Reuse and recycling opportunities – bring gently used sports equipment to be reused in the community and used household batteries for recycling
- Find out how to save money on your energy bills - bring your electric bill and sign up for ECLIPSE Community Solar discounts on your electric utility bill (www.erie.gov/eclipse)
- Information about green jobs and community initiatives
- Craft activities, give-aways and refreshments
The Earth Day celebration also included a brief awards ceremony featuring the annual Erie County Environmental Management Council’s Environmental Excellence Award winners and the WNY Stormwater Coalition’s Rain Barrel Painting Contest, featuring several of the award-winning rain barrels painted by students from Erie and Niagara Counties.
The Erie County Environmental Management Council Environmental Excellence Awards highlight local projects implemented by municipalities, institutions or non-profit organizations that have helped to improve our community’s environment. The top winners this year 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.
- 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 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.
The Erie County Department of Environment and Planning in partnership with the Western New York Stormwater Coalition also celebrated the winning entries in the 2026 Rain Barrel Painting Contest. Entrants were asked to capture a stormwater pollution prevention/water resource theme in a vibrant, eye-catching way that highlights how managing stormwater can prevent pollution to our local waterways. As an added benefit, each rain barrel can save up to 1,000 gallons of water per year. Placing the rain barrels in public places after the contest further reinforces the message on the barrels and the practice itself.
“Using rain barrels is a great way to reduce stormwater runoff and help to protect a precious natural resource,” said Deputy Erie County Executive Lisa Chimera. “These beautiful rain barrels are a perfect way to raise awareness about protecting our environment, especially with young people. I thank the Department of Environment & Planning, the Western NY Stormwater Coalition and all of our community partners for their efforts with this project.”
Prizes were awarded to the highest scoring rain barrels as follows:
Elementary Grades K-4:
1st Place: Union East Elementary - Environmental Club
2nd Place: Agnus Dei Co-op - Farm School Class
3rd Place: Holland Central - 4th Grade Art Enrichment
Middle School Grades 5-8:
1st Place: Mill Middle School – Science 7/8
2nd Place: Kenmore Junior Senior High – Big Picture Program
3rd Place: St. Mary's School for the Deaf
High School Plus Category:
1st Place: Pine Street Day Habilitation
2nd Place: Transit Road Day Habilitation
3rd Place: Williamsville North High School - AP Environmental Science
For more information:
About the Environmental Management Council, visit www.erie.gov/emc
About best management practices for stormwater management, visit: https://www3.erie.gov/environment/western-new-york-stormwater-coalition
