In the last decade, environmental activism in local communities has grown dramatically. Unlike the national environmental organizations, which are predominantly white and middle class, local environmental groups draw their members from a broad cross‐section of class and occupational categories. Members of minority groups are active as well, and women often have leadership roles. Unlike the nationals, grassroots groups emphasize protection of public health rather than the environment and often mistrust government and scientists. Local groups have forced cleanup of contaminated dump sites, blocked proposed facilities, and developed support for a preventive approach to environmental contamination. Functioning as self‐help groups, they assist individuals and communities to cope socially and psychologically with toxics disasters. Critics who deride the “not in my back yard”; (NIMBY) perspective of some local groups ignore their contributions to public health and the fact that many groups develop a “not in anyone's back yard”; (NIABY) perspective.