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Recyclables Commodity Market Project (1991-1997) The Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) Recyclables Exchange In 1991, the EPA Region 10 Solid Waste Program awarded the Clean Washington Center a grant to explore the feasibility of establishing a futures commodity market for recyclable materials. Soon after, a CBOT® Recycling Partnership was created that included the Center, Chicago Board of Trade, New York State Office of Recycling Market Development, National Recycling Coalition/Recycling Advisory Council, and the EPA. After completing the initial feasibility and partnership coordination, additional resources from EPA Headquarters were awarded to the Region 10 grant in 1994. On October 17, 1995 CBOT® launched a cash market Recyclables Exchange. The exchange was modified in September 1996 and can now be accessed exclusively through the Internet. While the Region 10 grant has now closed, EPA Headquarters is still supporting advances to the system through the Climate Change Program, Environmental Technology Initiative, and the Reinvention for Innovative Technologies Program. Work from the project contributed to the following: a feasibility study was completed under contract with New York State’s Department of Economic Development, Office of Recycling Market Development; a steering committee was formed and a CBOT® Recycling Partnership created consisting of the Board of Trade, National Recycling Coalition’s Recycling Advisory Council, EPA, NY State Office of Recycling Market Development, and the Clean Washington Center; potential buyer and seller commitments were organized for participation in standards and arbitration procedure development and beta testing of the system; sampling methods and testing procedures for PET and HDPE plastics were developed; sampling methods and testing procedures for paper grades were developed; arbitration procedures were developed; engineering visits of sampling and testing sites for glass and fiberglass were conducted; and laboratory testing for glass was completed. Unit: Solid Waste & Toxics Unit Viccy Salazar E-Mail: salazar.viccy@epa.gov (206) 553-1060 Phone Number: (206) 553-1060 Last Updated (mm/dd/yy): 10/23/2007 Recycle http://yosemite.epa.gov/R10/OWCM.NSF/hide/cbot