Material Exchange

PPG Members can submit information about your material to Partners in Project Green.

Connect with community organizations and recyclers. After you submit your online form, Partners in Project Green will facilitate introductions to groups in our network.

Exchange the material to divert it from landfill. You can negotiate any terms of agreement for the exchange of material. We encourage PPG members to provide shipping support to help get material to community organizations. Partners in Project Green will remain involved to help facilitate communication between participants.

Celebrate your success story! Profile the exchange through your website and social media channels. We are also happy to feature the exchange in an upcoming issue of the Partners in Project Green Newsletter and other communication channels to inspire other businesses to take part in the Material Exchange program and divert items from landfill.

The Material Exchange program (MEX) is delivered by Partners in Project Green (PPG), brought to you by Toronto and Region Conservation Authority and Toronto Pearson, which facilitates the exchange of material generated within the PPG membership to divert waste from landfill and move towards a circular economy.  

Organizations offering material (generator) need to be an active PPG member. Learn more about how to become a PPG member. 

To participate as an organization wanting to receive material (receiver) is free if they are able to accept materials for reuse, repurpose or recycling. The organization can be a business or non-profit, although priority is given to non-profits and those serving vulnerable populations.  

An organization must be an active PPG member to offer material. However, it is free to receive material from the program if the organization is able to reuse, repurpose or recycle the material.  

Learn more about how to become a PPG member. 

Sign up to be on our Receivers list.  

It is up to the parties (generator and receiving organizations) to determine how to transport materials. This is not a service PPG provides. We encourage organizations offering materials to cover the costs of transporting their ‘waste’ to their new home to be reused/recycled. Especially there may be situations in which materials are greatly needed by small non-profits who may not have the capacity to accept materials unless brought directly to their facility.  

There are no set criteria for the types and amounts of material that is accepted in the program. The only limitation to the types of materials we can rehome is the imagination of the organizations receiving material.  

If it is a large amount of material the quantity may be divided up and distributed to several different organizations. 

The organization offering the material is responsible for storing the material while an exchange is being set up. PPG does not offer storage. It is advised that organizations offering material contact MEX as early as possible to ensure a smooth transition of material.  

Once all the information is provided to PPG staff, we will reach out to the organizations in our network looking for similar material to what is being offered. If we receive interest from an organization about receiving material, PPG staff will connect the generating/offering and receiving organizations together to coordinate the logistics of the exchange. 

It should be noted that PPG does not guarantee that a reuse or recycling option will be found through the program. Many factors contribute to the success of an exchange and there have been cases in which we are unable to successfully divert the material from landfill.  

The amount of time to complete an exchange depends on many factors, including the unique nature of the material, the quantity offered, and responsiveness by the participating parties. Bearing this in mind, exchanges can be completed in 2-8 weeks.  

Yes. It is recommended that the organization informs PPG staff that the material will be generated on an ongoing basis so we can proactively seek receivers who may be able to handle the continuous supply.