EXHIBIT 23.1

          CONSENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP, INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

We consent  to the  incorporation  by  reference  in the  Registration
Statements (Form S-8 Nos. 33-83060,  33-61369 and 33-42186) pertaining
to the EMCON 1986 Incentive  Stock Option and 1988 Stock Option Plans,
the EMCON Employee Stock Purchase Plan and the EMCON  Restricted Stock
Plan of our  report  dated  February  6,  1997,  with  respect  to the
consolidated  financial  statements  and schedule of EMCON included in
the Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 1996.



San Francisco, California
March 26, 1997










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