Waste or "materials" exchanges promote the use, reuse, and exchange of materials which would otherwise be discarded. Designed to encourage the recovery of valuable resources and discourage their disposal to land, air, and water, waste exchanges can also assist industries in reducing their waste disposal costs. Though many industries routinely reclaim materials from their own wastes, the idea of companies reusing other companies' waste materials as feed stock may be a new concept.

Waste/materials exchanges have operated in California since 1976, and in Europe and Japan for the last 20 years. These services facilitate the exchange of industrial materials and wastes by acting as a clearinghouse and putting interested parties in contact with each other.

The California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA) operates two exchange programs:

• California Materials Exchange for nonhazardous materials Wastes
• California Waste Exchange for hazardous materials/wastes

California Materials Exchange

The California Materials Exchange (CalMAX) is a free service designed to help businesses find markets for materials they have traditionally discarded. It is operated by the California Integrated Waste Management Board and publishes a bimonthly catalog listing contacts for materials available and wanted.

The items listed in the catalog are nonhazardous, with the exception of latex paint-related products and unused chemical products at CalMAX's discretion. Examples of other types of items listed include fabric scraps, pallets, organic debris, construction and plumbing materials, furruture, electronics, and typical recyclable materials (paper, plastics, metals, etc.).

The Business Reuse and Recycling Catalog is divided into three main sections for convenient searching: (l ) Available Materials, (2) Wanted Materials, and (3) Regional Listings of both. Listings most local to Santa Clara County can be found in Region 4, Greater Bay Area. The catalog also provides information on other local, state, and national reuse programs and assistance resources. (Plans are in the works to offer fee catalog as a free computer bulletin board service as well.)

To receive the Business Reuse and Recycling Catalog or list items for exchange, call CalMAX at (916) 255-2369.

California Waste Exchange

The California Waste Exchange (CWE) is a free program administered by the. Department of Toxic Substances Control. The program serves businesses which generate hazardous waste and offers two types of assistance:

1. direct assistance
2. publication of the Directory of Industrial Recyclers and Listing of Hazardous Wastes Available for Recycling

CWE staff may assist companies by clarifying the applicability of recycling exemptions to a specific process or exchange, discussing other regulatory issues, or referring them to appropriate technical resources. (Consult with the Santa Clara County Hazardous Materials Compliance Division (HMCD) prior to calling CWE.)

CWE publishes the Directory of Industrial Recyclers and Listing of Hazardous Wastes Available for Recycling to increase industry's awareness of available commercial recycling opportunities. The directory lists hazardous waste management firms authorized to receive and recycle specific hazardous wastes. It also lists recyclable hazardous wastes and surplus materials that are available. (See detail below on "wastes eligible for exchange" and "surplus materials.") Listings are categorized by the type of waste managed. Companies which accept "surplus materials" are also listed. (See below for description of "surplus materials.")

To request a copy of the Directory, call (916) 322-3670 and provide your mailing address.

If interested in an item available, call CWE at the Resource Recovery Unit at (916) 322-4742 and provide them with the listed item's identification code, the issue of the Directory, and your company contact, title, and phone number.

To list an item, complete and return the application form provided in the Directory. CWE will maintain the confidentiality of the lister and will notify them of all interested parties. The lister and responding company are then responsible for subsequent contacts and meeting applicable recycling regulations.

Wastes Eligible for Exchange:

Hazardous wastes which are recycled by certain methods are excluded from classification as hazardous wastes and can be exchanged, transported and recycled by companies without special authorization (i.e. hazardous waste facility permit, registered hauler, and manifest are not required). However, they still must be handled as hazardous materials, and must comply with applicable conditions of the Hazardous Waste Control Law regarding han- dling, documentation, and other requirements (H&S; Ch. 6.5; Div. 20; Sect. 25143.2, 25143.9, 25143.10). (Note: These laws are subject to change through the legislative process.)

For example, hazardous wastes ("recyclable materials") which are reused as ingredients in an industrial process to make a product, or as safe and effective substitutes for commercial products, may qualify for exchange under this exclusion if they do not require treatment prior to reuse. There are some exceptions to the exclusion, however, and more generous recycling exemp- tions may apply to wastes which are recycled at the generator's site or which are non-RCRA wastes. For full details, consult the law, the Santa Clara County Hazardous Materials Compliance Division (HMCD), and/or CWE.

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Private Exchanges

Wastes may also be exchanged privately (without using CWE or another formal exhange program), as long as the applicable hazardous waste control laws are met. Check with HMCD (408/299-6930) to verify applicability of recycling exemptions to a proposed exchange.

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Surplus Materials:

In order to be a "surplus material" (as defined in CCR Sect.66201.10), the material must be unused and transferred to another person for use in a manner for which the material is commonly used. Firms do not require special authorization to accept surplus materials, nor do the materials need to be managed as hazardous wastes (e.g. registered hauler, and manifest are not required for transfer). However, they still must be handled as hazardous materials.

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Successful exchanges save money . . .

Generators reduce transportation and disposal costs!

Receivers reduce raw material costs!

The new CalMAX program has already had some great successes:

• The Manteca Boys & Girls Club got a real spook set for their Halloween haunted house and lumber materials for a room addition from the last Nightmare on Elm Street film!
• Other examples include an ongoing exchange of wooden pallets, exchanges of 4,000 tons of asphalt and 40,000 lbs. of plastic film, and miscellaneous small exhanges involving padlocks, wood reels, books, slide mounts, and more . . .

Successful "hazardous waste" exchange stories include:

• A company making high strength steel tools gets its steel from an east coast manufacturer. Fine steel dust resulting from grinding processes is sent back to the manufacturer and made into solid steel again.
• Another company making aluminum parts sends the aluminum dust from its grinding processes to a graphite manufacturer, who uses it as a component in the graphite.
• A company using kerosene to clean metal parts can't continue to use the kersosene once it's contaminated with 10% oil. A small company across the street uses the "waste material" as a lubricant in its trepanning process.