Third Year’s Accomplishments:

Our Numbers Have Nearly Doubled!

• 80,546 tons of waste exchanged
• Saved businesses $3,221,840.00 in disposal costs
• Fielded 1,540 calls

BUILDING ON A STRONG FOUNDATION

On the heels of a successful first year of operation, OMEx continues to establish a trend of success. We wrote in our 1998-1999 Annual Report – “With the support it (OMEx) has received from businesses, government agencies, and non-profit groups across the state, we expect OMEx to continue to grow in coming years.” As we review our third year of operation, the statistics continue to climb!

80,546 tons (161,091,465 pounds) of materials were exchanged in 2000 as a direct result of working through OMEx: Ohio’s Materials Exchange. That nearly doubles what was reported as successfully exchanged during 1999! (40,905 tons) During 2000, 1,540 calls were fielded through the fax-on-demand.

LISTINGS IN REVIEW

OMEx carried 602 listings – 435 for Materials Available and 167 for Materials Wanted. These listings were placed by 283 companies, indicating that most OMEx users list more than one material.

MOST EXCHANGED CATEGORIES

The Construction & Demolition category continues this year as the largest exchange material. Asphalt was the material most often exchanged within this category. Other highly successful categories were:

50,024,000 pounds 5,200,000 pounds 3,748,870 pounds 3,655,682 pounds 1,200,000 pounds Construction & Demolition Alkalis Rubber Miscellaneous Refractory Material

HISTORY OF THE EXCHANGE

Ohio’s Materials Exchange began publishing in March 1998 as a cooperative effort between the Association of Ohio Recyclers, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the Ohio Department of Development and Waste Alternatives, Inc. to provide a statewide reuse and recycling service to business and industry in Ohio. Unlike many materials exchange services, OMEx is a cooperative effort between state agencies, a non-profit group and a private business. This non-mandated collaborative spirit is the core of the program’s success.

The hard-copy version of OMEx has been distributed bimonthly to 12,000 businesses, government agencies and individuals. The publication has offered no-cost materials wanted and materials available ads that run the gamut from acetic acid to wood scrap. The Materials Exchange serves as a “meeting place” for listers and respondents, who then work out the details of payment, transportation and storage. To facilitate exchanges, OMEx offers a fax-on-demand system (888/718-OMEx) and a Website, http://www.epa.state.oh.us/opp/recyc/omex.html where users can access forms and listing contact information. For the most recent listing information, users can request the New Since catalog through our fax-on-demand system.

OMEx plays an important role in assisting waste generators in identifying and implementing recycling, waste use and reuse opportunities. These efforts result in lower operating costs, diminished demand for landfill space and incinerator capacity, and, ultimately, a cleaner environment.

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Office of Compliance Assistance and Pollution Prevention
Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
P.O. Box 1049
Columbus, Ohio 43216-1049
Phone (614) 644-3469
Fax (614) 644-2807
Toll Free (800) 329-7518
E-Mail: p2mail@epa.state.oh.us