The New York City Department of Sanitation Emerald Society Pipe and Drum band was formed in October of 1993 by members of the department, independently from the job on a voluntary basis. The band made its debut in April 1995, playing at the department’s annual Emerald Society dinner dance.

The band is comprised of sanitation employees ranging in title from sanitation worker to four star chief. The band has also welcomed a few non-departmental members who also share a love and dedication to the band.

In the beginning, the band assembled at Pier 59 in Manhattan with approximately 15 inexperienced members and has since grown to 40 members. It was not an easy journey to get to this point. Much of the band’s success was achieved through the teachings of veteran piper Daniel Sprague and veteran drummer Kenneth Finn, both of the New York City Police Department.

True to our vocation, the band has adopted two Department facilities to hold their practices. During the summer, the band practices on a Manhattan facility pier with a full view of the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges. Boats and ferries pass by and offer cheers and praise for our efforts.

Since that first performance in 1995, the band's reputation has grown considerably.

This has led to invitations to many prestigious events, including the City Hall Irish Heritage month opening ceremonies, the Intrepid Air and Space Museum , Shea Stadium Irish Night, two Yankee World Series victory parades, John Glenn's ticker tape parade and the WTC closing ceremonies at Ground Zero and the Fresh Kills landfill.

Currently, the band is managed by bandmaster Patrick Flynn and is under the direction of pipe major Roger Leahy with the assistance of former pipe major Dennis Diggins, Mark O'Brien and Joe O'Keefe. The drum section is run by drum sergeant Kevin Diegnan and the band is led "up the avenue" by drum major Kevin Emsworth.