Learning about Environmental Activism in my Community

By Julia Tybinkowska

I couldn’t do volunteering work on campus due to COVID-19. I decided to do some online research about things my community does to help the environment and community.

The Rockland County Environmental Management Council is in charge of protecting my community’s natural resources, and provides public awareness of environmental issues and achievements. They are responsible for educating the public about environmental issues and opportunities. Their activities also include sponsoring the Eleanor Burlingham Earth Day Contest for students to help them interact in the environment. They also sponsor the Edward Brophy Green Champion Award for any business, group or school that shows exceptional environmental management.

They are in charge of monitoring land use and development and working to preserve water resources, and also looking to create a green infrastructure to help manage storm water runoff. EMC also help find new technologies to reduce carbon footprints and greenhouse gas emissions; and promote “reduce, reuse, recycle” to reduce waste in government, commercial and residential places.

I’d never heard of the EMC, and the more I read about it I learned how much of a reflection it has on my community. They are very present in schools and teaching young students about how important it is to acknowledge environmental issues and be present in making a change. I believe bringing more awareness and information to the younger generation will help push people to make a change and interact with their environment.

In 2014, Keep Rockland Beautiful (KRB) was created. KRB regulates roadway and waterways cleanups all throughout the county. It is a great learning system to help educate our whole community. I have seen many signs and heard about KRB in the news. Being able to have this constantly repeating on the news helps engrave this program into your brain.

The village of Montebello was honored for starting the first electronic car charging station, the first solar panel installation on government buildings, the first Tree City USA, and NY State Climate Smart Community adopter. Clarkston was also honored for being the first to install large scale solar panels on top of a closed landfill.

Being able to do this research about my community’s mission to preserve our environment was such a benefit. A lot of these associations I had no clue about, and really didn’t think more things existed past the Keep Rockland Beautiful association. It felt very comforting knowing that there is a direct push to educate students how they can be pro-active and help on environmental issues.