The Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers has introduced a service called Pennsylvania Material Trader, an on-line service geared to making the exchange and reuse of traditionally discarded materials much easier. The unveiling of the service is in response to the needs of businesses in the state.
Material Trader is a free service designed to match businesses and organizations that produce wastes, by-products, or surplus materials with businesses and organizations that need them.
The website, http://www.materialtrader.org, allows users to place materials on the exchange, as well as search for and respond to materials already listed. Participants have the option to list their materials confidentially.
Materials offered through Material Trader are either free or have a nominal cost. Users may be able to find feedstock or supplies for free or at much lower costs than what they normally pay.