Material Exchange

Partners in Project Green’s Material Exchange program facilitates the exchange of material generated within our PPG Membership to divert waste from landfill and move towards a circular economy.

Through the Material Exchange program, businesses, non-profit organizations, and recyclers provide information about the material they would like to offer or receive. Partners in Project Green staff then facilitate interactions between participants to complete and promote successful exchanges.

Results 2013-2024

18,611 tonnes

Since 2013, MEX has diverted 18,611 tonnes of material from landfill

$3,700,000

Since 2019, the value of material diverted and reused by community organizations is over $3,700,000

How Your Business Can Get Involved

What can be diverted and reused? You’d be surprised! Tell us about all of your waste streams, and we will find a home for your material. If the material cannot be reused, we will help ensure it is recycled.

Please note: Anyone wishing to offer material through the program must be Members of Partners in Project Green.

Want to Offer Materials?

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.


Want to Receive Materials?

Are you a community organization or recycler looking to accept material? Register with us for free and let us know what material you can accept. When organizations make material available that you can accept, we will connect you to them!

We will also profile your organization to demonstrate your commitment to diverting waste. Recyclers are welcome to register as well.

Please note, those wishing to receive material through the program are encouraged to become Members of Partners in Project Green.


Group of women holding the waste bins they received from Newcomer Centre of Peel.

Read About Our Past Exchanges

From Crayons to Face Masks, from Duvets to Bamboo. The Material Exchange can help your business find new uses for your good!

Frequently Asked Questions

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.  


Interested in learning more about the Materials Exchange Program? Contact Darlene Coyle at Darlene.Coyle@trca.ca