New portal for waste exchanges

New portal for waste exchanges

26 May 2003

It’s easier than ever for businesses to link up with others to get rid of unwanted leftover materials for free.

Timed to launch alongside a nationwide “Reduce Your Rubbish” campaign, 12 “waste” exchanges throughout the country have joined forces to create a portal, http://www.wasteexchange.org.nz to enable organisations throughout New Zealand to easily link up to their local exchange.

“The exchanges broker hundreds of successful matches every year between businesses who have materials that they want to get rid of, with organisations who can find a use for them,” said ARC Resource Efficiency manager Allan Goddard.

The 12 exchanges cover more than half of the country’s land mass and an estimated 85% of the population and business centres.

The Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Gisborne and Hawkes Bay regions link up to a common interactive website called NoThrow. Wellington and Christchurch run separate waste interactive exchanges that enable people to register materials wanted or available through the internet.

Auckland Regional Council’s listings for materials offered and wanted can be viewed on the website. Co-ordinator contacts for the Hurunui, Selwyn, Ashburton, Timaru and the Mackenzie District’s schemes are featured on the portal.

Materials exchanges need to be operated regionally, as organisations giving away unwanted materials, or collecting materials, do not want to travel large distances to make their transaction.

The exchanges have been set up by councils or by non-profits as a local free service to save natural resources and to reduce “rubbish” sent to landfill. Most of the exchanges take place for free, as both parties benefit.

Popular exchanges are used pallets, plastic and metal drums, building off-cuts and used electronic goods, like computer parts.

The portal is hosted by the waste management industry body, Waste Management Institute of NZ (WasteMINZ).

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