1 / 14

MassDEP Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection

Virtual Reuse: “The challenges and opportunities of online materials exchanges”. GRRN National Recycling & Zero Waste Conference October 20, 2009 Devens, MA. MassDEP Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. Mission / Vision.

keagan
Download Presentation

MassDEP Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. Virtual Reuse: “The challenges and opportunities of online materials exchanges” GRRN National Recycling & Zero Waste Conference October 20, 2009 Devens, MA MassDEP Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection

  2. Mission / Vision • The Mass Material Trader (MMT), a FREE online materials reuse network, assists businesses/organizations in *Massachusetts by helping them find, sell, trade, or give away useful used or surplus materials that would otherwise be disposed of. • To become the primary online Reuse resource in the Commonwealth & support MassDEP’s Reuse goals. *And surrounding New England States

  3. Reuse Online History • Early 90’s MassDEP helped to fund the Center for Ecological Technology’s (CET), online materials exchange • Before it’s time: pre Freecycle, Craig’s list, Ebay etc. • Resources needed to get the exchange off the ground were lacking (monetary and people) • Reached about 250 member companies • Materials Management & Reuse continues to be a key strategy for the Bureau of Waste Prevention

  4. Reuse Online History • December 2008, the Northeast Recycling Council (NERC) & EPA grant creating a national online Reuse Marketplace search engine. • iwastenot systems awarded bid • NERC/EPA grant funded Mass Material Trader • Launched site in July/August 2009

  5. Service Overview & Benefits • Subscribers can post listings of items and materials they wish to dispose of or browse for those currently available in their area. • Each listing contains a description of the material or item, contact information, and in some cases cost and delivery information. • The actual exchange transactions are carried out directly between the interested parties.

  6. Member Profile

  7. Member Directories

  8. Recyclopedia

  9. Categories

  10. Event Listings

  11. Helpful Links

  12. Marketing • Marketing & Advertising: zero cost marketing strategies - word of mouth, newsletters, web links, emails, events, phone calls, etc. • marketing needs to match the intended target market • focus on partnership opportunities • Information packets need to be created for distribution to business/Nonprofits • Audiences both large and small • Business / Manufacturing • Non Profit / NGO’s • Schools / Educational Institutions • Government / Municipalities & State

  13. Challenges • Marketing is the biggest challenge overall and will ultimately determine MMT’s success • Growth of MMT can be likened to chicken & egg – which comes first? • MMT needs new members to ensure a fresh up-to-date supply of materials (wanted/available) • MMT needs up-to-date supply of materials (wanted/available) to entice new members to join and to tempt existing members to return and search for up-to-date materials

More Related