Download - GRRN Zero Waste Conference Intro to Materials Exchanges Introduction To Virtual Materials Exchanges
GRRN Zero WasteConference
Intro to Materials Exchanges
IntroductionTo
VirtualMaterials Exchanges
What is a Materials Exchange?
A system for recapture of materials and items which had previously been destined to be discarded/disposed of.
What are the Goals of aMaterials Exchange?
Reuse Recycle
Reduce
The “Rag and Bone” ManA physical waste exchange
Resource Scarcity World War II
Earliest Documented ExchangeWartime Britain
National Industrial Materials RecoveryAssociation
Ceased after WWII
Materials ExchangeTimeline
1950’s and 1960’sConservation and recapture are not atop priority 1970’sMaterials exchange systems spring up 1980’sRegulatory changes and reduced fundingundermine many systems
1990’s and Beyond Materials Exchange hits the net
History of Materials Exchanges
http://www.p2pays.org/ref/10/09222.htm#chapter1
Materials Exchanges:Trash-matching
Facilitate transactions where:
• Source and sink are not known in advance
• Material flows are intermittent and
unpredictable
What GetsExchanged?
Items and materials are typically: Previously considered waste/of no use Of low economic value Dispersed/low volume
Materials ExchangeCharacteristics
Successful exchanges are usually: Local/regional Focused And free!
Challengesof Reuse
The Challenges: Inconvenient Uneconomic Unknown method Perception that it is not viable
Our Goals: Convenience Economic
Efficiency Collaborative
method development
Change perceptions
What Does Information Technology Add?
Reduced transaction cost
Collaborative problem solving
Just in time information delivery
Better tracking and reporting
Reduced Transaction Cost
Reduced ‘search and information’ costs.
DistributedProblem Solving
Two minds are always better than one.
Just in timeInformation Delivery
Information is available and accurate atthe time it is needed.
Better Trackingand Reporting
Diversion rates and other metrics areavailable.