New online exchange seeks to reduce waste

A new online materials exchange system aims to reduce the amount of materials headed to landfills in Puerto Rico.

The free and bilingual Puerto Rico Materials Exchange, unveiled by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Puerto Rico Solid Waste Management Authority (SWMA), lets organisations and individuals advertise, request and exchange a variety of materials that might otherwise become rubbish.

“The Puerto Rico Materials Exchange provides a forum for businesses and individuals alike to find and get rid of all kinds of business, building and construction materials that they no longer need, but that do not belong in one of the Commonwealth’s already crowded landfills,” said Acting EPA Regional Administrator George Pavlou. “This system will also help businesses’ bottom lines through opportunities to obtain free and low-cost materials, and to reduce waste disposal costs.”

Items featured on the Website will include office furniture and equipment, building materials and tools, electronics, fixtures, textiles, appliances, batteries and paint.

The disposal and management of waste in Puerto Rico has been one of Commonwealth’s major environmental challenges for years. Recycling rates in the Commonwealth are much lower than the national average and many of its landfills are nearing capacity or lack proper environmental controls. The EPA has ordered five landfills to close since 2007.