Green+ — Community Climate Dividend Program
Green+ is a community-based climate initiative that returns environmental value directly to residents.
When communities reduce landfill methane emissions through better waste practices — especially organics diversion — those reductions have measurable climate value. Green+ converts that value into local benefits such as waste fee relief, community vouchers, and household support programs.
The goal is simple:
when residents help reduce emissions, residents share the benefit.
Green+ is not a personal tracking system and does not monitor purchases, travel, or lifestyle. It measures only municipal waste outcomes.
Why Waste?
Methane from landfilled organic material is one of the largest sources of municipal greenhouse gas emissions. Food waste and paper decompose without oxygen underground and produce methane — a greenhouse gas significantly more potent than carbon dioxide.
Because this emission is measurable and preventable, waste systems are one of the few areas where local actions can generate verified climate reductions.
Green+ focuses on:
organics diversion
contamination reduction
reduced garbage tonnage
improved waste efficiency
How the Program Works
1. Measure
The municipality tracks community-level waste outcomes:
landfill tonnage
diversion rate
contamination rate
collection performance
2. Verify
Avoided emissions are calculated using recognized greenhouse-gas accounting methods. Independent verification may be used where appropriate.
3. Create Value
Emission reductions can produce:
avoided disposal costs
operational savings
environmental performance funding
in some cases, carbon-credit revenue
4. Return Benefits
Instead of remaining within the waste system, value is returned to residents through a community climate dividend.
Possible benefits include:
reduced waste fees
household rebates
local vouchers
support programs for vulnerable households
What Green+ Is Not
Green+ does not:
track consumer purchases
track transportation behaviour
assign personal carbon scores
restrict services
penalize households
The program operates at the community outcome level, not the personal behaviour level.
Privacy and Fairness
Green+ is designed around three principles:
Minimal data
Only waste collection outcomes are used. No retail or financial information is collected.
No penalties
The program distributes benefits. It does not impose sanctions.
Equity protections
Households facing barriers to participation are supported rather than penalized.
Why It Matters
Environmental programs often ask residents to participate without visible return. Green+ changes that relationship.
When emissions are reduced locally:
landfill pressure decreases
service costs stabilize
environmental impact falls
and the community receives a dividend
This creates shared ownership of environmental progress.
Pilot Projects
Green+ is designed to begin as a municipal pilot program in partnership with local governments and community organizations. Pilot phases allow:
transparent reporting
public feedback
independent review
council renewal decisions
Partner With Us
Municipalities, researchers, and community organizations interested in participating in a Green+ pilot can contact:
Myles Jones
Executive Director
16042520 Canada Association (RSMR)
mjones@rsmr.ca
613-215-1423