The Fort Report Column

Materials Exchange Program Effective Way to Recycle and Save Money

At a time when energy costs are a serious concern in everything from transportation to construction, local efforts like the Nebraska Materials Exchange Program that connect users with existing resources make good sense in terms of both stewardship and public policy.

If you have materials that you wish to dispose of or are trying to find supplies for a new project, you might find the Materials Exchange Program can help. Nebraska schools, businesses, nonprofits, and others are using this unique program to recycle supplies and save money.

Started in 1994 by the nonprofit Keep Nebraska Beautiful, the Nebraska Materials Exchange Program matches up organizations that wish to dispose of used materials with organizations that can make use of them. Organizations save money on disposal costs and avoid the purchase of new materials.

The program accepts a wide variety of materials including office furniture, wood waste, computers, industrial products, food waste, boxes, and large gallon drums.  Most generally the material is donated free of charge.

In April, a company in Lincoln had overhead transparency materials it no longer needed.  An employee contacted Keep Nebraska Beautiful which matched the overhead materials with a local school, saving the school $300.  Last Fall, a local musician contacted Keep Nebraska Beautiful about wood he had left over from a construction project.  A teacher at Norris Elementary School used the wood for a class art project.

To learn how you might use the Nebraska Materials Exchange Program, call 1-800-486-4562 (in Lincoln call 486-4562.)  You may also contact Peter Stadig atpstadig@knb.org or Kathleen Jacobson at kjacobson@knb.org, or fill out a program application at http://www.knb.org/exchange_form.html.

###