Project Drawdown – The original! 100 solutions to reverse global warming.
Carbon Pricing
Carbon Offset Calculators – From Swiss non-profit myclimate.org, with opportunities to donate to specific, vetted projects.
Jet Set Offset – Sign up once do donate one cent per mile to your favorite environmental cause, including the New England Wind Fund, a project of the Green Energy Consumers Alliance.
Education
Four Years of Trash in a Single Mason Jar: Why I Live a Zero Waste Lifestyle – Inspiring 15 minute TedX talk by Lauren Singer, who maintains a blog called Trash is for Tossers, which has zero waste tips and resources.
Green Energy Consumers Alliance – In-depth information to help you make decisions about energy efficiency upgrades, heating and cooling systems, hybrid and electric vehicle purchases, etc. Also a great resource for navigating tax incentives and rebates.
How Plastic Production Pollutes Small Towns – This is a very good video from the Story of Stuff Project explaining the connections of the current buildout of petrochemical plants to the whole plastics issue.
Recycle Smart MA – Not sure if something belongs in your recycling bin, or how to dispose of it properly? Check this searchable recyclopedia.
Organizing Tools and Models
Break Free From Plastic Brand Audit – Toolkit shows how to conduct a brand audit (cleanup + data collection) to build the case for corporate responsibility for plastic pollution.
Precious Plastics – A movement of community-based, DIY plastic recycling sites, and a great entry point into understanding closed loop recycling. Open-source plans and other resources mean that anyone can build the machines, so it’s a widely replicated project.
Radix Ecological Sustainability Center – A demo and educational site for community-based sustainable solutions in Albany, NY. Founder Scott Kellogg is the author of Toolbox for Sustainable City Living: A DIY Guide (full-text pdf)
Sustainable Consumption Toolkit – A database of implementable sustainable consumption strategies plus a Self-Assessment Checklist to help determine where to focus local action and an Impact Measurement tool for assessing and communicating results.
Throwaway Free Communities – An initiative of the group Upstream. Resources and information about moving away from disposability on the business and community scale.
Local Groups and List Servs
The BagShare Project – Volunteers create and give away durable, reusable bags (made from materials that would otherwise be thrown away) to replace disposable bags used at local businesses. A well-documented local initiative that could be easily replicated. Lots of resources on the website, including information about the kinds of materials that can be effectively diverted from the wastestream.
Boston Ujima Project – Participatory democracy + community-based solidarity economy networks. Visionary, multifaceted approach to culture change.
Extinction Rebellion Massachusetts – An international non-violent movement fighting to save the future of humanity and life on Earth in the face of global climate change. Sign up for email updates about local meetings, events, actions, here.
Valley Time Trade – Active alternative currency/service exchange system. Free to join. Members post services they would like to offer (eg. help with gardening, furniture repair, etc.) as well as services they would like to receive. You earn credit for time spent helping other members, and can spend your credit on services offered by others.
Western MA Permaculture Guild – Listserv promotes permaculture events in the region and provides ways for folks interested in permaculture to gather, share skills & ideas and inspire each other.
Community Collaborators
Common Good – The local payment card for community power, and a flexible platform for community investment groups (see our carbon offset fund).
Franklin County Solid Waste Management District – Check out their local guide to waste reduction resources: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
Repair Public – Fixery through community around the Pioneer Valley.