From Waste to Resource--The National Materials Exchange Network

The National Materials Exchange Network

Since its launching last fall, the National Materials Exchange Network has made it a lot easier for companies to find the resources they need in someone else’s waste. Here’s how it works: companies with unwanted by-products, overstock, or discards list their material with a waste exchange organization; potential buyers call the computerized Materials Exchange Network by modem and receive the latest information on materials listed in the 26 waste exchanges throughout North America. If a material of interest is seen, he or she can contact the company and negotiate a purchase price (if any) and make arrangements for shipping. For example, a computer manufacturer might use high-grade acids to etch computer chips. After a single use the acid may become too contaminated to use again, but it could still be used very effectively by other industries for other purposes.