ILSR Mission

The Institute’s mission is to provide innovative strategies, working models and timely information to support environmentally sound and equitable community development. To this end, ILSR works with citizens, activists, policymakers and entrepreneurs to design systems, policies and enterprises that meet local or regional needs; to maximize human, material, natural and financial resources; and to ensure that the benefits of these systems and resources accrue to all local citizens.

Since 1974, the Institute for Local Self-Reliance has been working to enable communities with tools to increase economic effectiveness, reduce wastes, decrease environmental impacts and provide for local ownership of the infrastructure and resources essential for community well-being.  

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Activities Reports:

New Rules Project - 2007 Annual Report
Learn about our accomplishments in three sectors of targeted focus:
1. Hometown Advantage - expanding, developing and protecting locally owned retail businesses
2. Democratic Energy - dispersed energy generation and local ownership
3. Telecommunications As Commons - building strong, publicly owned telecommunications networks

Waste to Wealth - 2007 Annual Report
For 33 years ILSR’s “Waste to Wealth” program has helped to convert wastes from environmental and economic liabilities into valuable resources that contribute to community development. In 2007, our work has focused on the following:
(1) encouraging sustainable biomaterials to replace fossil-fuel-based plastics
(2) developing green industrial parks
(3) salvaging building materials through deconstruction
(4) deterring waste incineration projects and promoting in their stead zero waste planning and recycling-based economic development
(5) establishing a composting program in our home city of Washington, DC.