North Central Materials Exchange - MATEX
Cass, Crow Wing, and Hubbard counties have teamed up with the Minnesota Materials Exchange program to offer exciting new opportunities to reduce waste and to reuse materials in northern Minnesota.
The materials exchange (MATEX) program is based on the concept that one company's waste product could be another company's raw material. Through a Materials Exchange, companies and organizations can reduce their waste disposal costs by finding other companies, organizations, schools or individuals which could use these waste or surplus materials in their processes or programs. The main purpose of the exchange is to connect businesses and organizations that have reusable goods with those who need them.
Advantages of Materials Exchange
- Less material enters landfills
- Participants can locate valuable materials and feedstock free or at reduced cost, locally and statewide
- Participants can profit from reduced waste disposal costs and from sale of items which would otherwise have been considered "waste"
- Service is free
- Materials Exchange programs conserve resources
- Participants become more environmentally responsible
Businesses and organizations may list usable materials they no longer need on the exchange. Participants may also check the listings for items that they could use in their processes, programs, or services. For example, maybe your business did some remodeling and you have leftover supplies. Those items could be offered on the exchange and a school could use your leftovers in their drama department.
The MATEX will help to match up items wanted with materials available. The participants make final exchange and transportation arrangements with each other. The materials are not physically collected by MATEX for storage or transfer. The service provided by MATEX is free, although a fee may be charged by the listing party for some of the materials.
Contact Info
The MATEX office is located in the Cass County Environmental Service Department at the Cass County Courthouse, Box 3000, Walker, MN 56484. You may call (218) 547-7287 or contact the office by e-mail to request a form or to list over the phone.
Listing on MATEX
Your information will be listed on the regional exchange. The listing of materials wanted and materials available will be available at the Environmental Service or Solid Waste Departments of Cass, Crow Wing and Hubbard Counties or sent out by e-mail for those requesting that service.
In addition to the regional service, participants are encouraged to check the listings on the statewide Minnesota Materials Exchange Alliance. Call the Minnesota Technical Assistance Program (MN TAP) .
Any business, organization, school, non-profit group governmental unit or individual may list with this service at no cost. Some businesses prefer to distribute on a large scale only and may not be willing or able to work with individual residents. However, if the opportunity exists, individual residents may also make use of the service.
Participation is not limited to those in Cass, Crow Wing or Hubbard counties. Anyone may contact this or any other MN TAP affiliated Materials Exchange Program. It is the intent of the exchange programs to encourage the reuse of materials and to reduce the amount of waste or surplus materials entering landfills and other municipal solid waste facilities.
Disclaimer
The North Central Materials Exchange (MATEX) is not responsible for any warranty, expressed or implied, as to the accuracy of the material description, or the suitability of any material offered through this exchange. It is the legal responsibility of each party to determine whether a listed material is a hazardous waste or a hazardous material. Both hazardous and solid waste must be managed in accordance with all relevant regulations and laws. The North Central Materials Exchange (MATEX) reserve the right not to list a material, to delist a material or to edit information provided by the listing party.
Other Sites of Interest
Crow Wing County Solid Waste and Hubbard County Solid Waste.