Save Energy, Save Money

New York -- The saying that one man's trash is another man's treasure is the driving force behind a five-year program created by the New York City Department of Sanitation, the Long Island City Business Development Corp. and the Industrial Technology Assistance Corp. (ITAC). Called NY Wa$teMatch, the materials exchange program reduces waste disposal costs for manufacturers and other small businesses while simultaneously providing firms with the raw materials they need.

Companies nationwide can list nonhazardous waste--electronic goods, food, metals, glass, wood, paper, plaster, rubber and more--on a list compiled by NY Wa$teMatch. Firms can then refer to the list to see if there are any materials they can use in manufacturing products. Transactions can be made as long as either the buyer or the seller is located in New York City; ITAC takes a sliding scale percentage based on the savings involved.

Businesses can list their materials for free, and materials may remain on the list until they become obsolete. To sign up or find out what materials are available for exchange, call (212) 240-6966 or visit http://www.itac.org/industry/waste.html

This article was originally published in the September 1998 print edition of Entrepreneur with the headline: Save Energy, Save Money.