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Materials and Waste Exchanges
Materials and waste exchanges are markets for buying and selling reusable and recyclable commodities. Some are physical warehouses that advertise available commodities through printed catalogs, while others are simply Web sites that connect buyers and sellers. Some are coordinated by state and local governments. Others are wholly private, for-profit businesses. The exchanges also vary in terms of area of service and the types of commodities exchanged. In general, waste exchanges tend to handle hazardous materials and industrial process waste while materials exchanges handle nonhazardous items.
Typically, the exchanges allow subscribers to post materials available or wanted on a Web page listing. Organizations interested in trading posted commodities then contact each other directly. As more and more individuals recognize the power of this unique tool, the number of Internet-accessible materials exchanges continues to grow, particularly in the area of national commodity-specific exchanges.
Wherever possible, the materials exchange programs presented contain a brief description of the services offered, including the materials available for exchange, how to contact the exchange, and other pertinent information. Significant effort has been made to provide a comprehensive and accurate list of materials exchanges; however, this Web site may not currently represent a complete listing of national, regional, and local exchanges.
