Presented at: Atlanta Source Reduction Conference Managing MSW: The Source Reduction Option Atlanta, Georgia R.C. Herndon and E. B. Jones The Southern Waste Information Exchange The Florida Center for Solid & Hazardous Waste Management Florida State University Tallahassee, Florida May 4, 1994 TABLE OF CONTENTS I. Introduction: The Waste Exchange Concept............................................... 1 II. Historical Overview of the Southem Waste Information Exchange (SWIX) Clearinghouse ........................................... 3 IJI. Waste Materials Suitable for Exchange ........................................................ 5 IV. Results of the SWIX Program in 1993.......................................................... 6 V. Conclusion ......................................................................................................... 7 Table 1. Quantity of Materials Available by Waste Category....................................................................................... 9 Table 2. Percentage of Inquiries by Waste Category for Wastes Available. ....................................................................................... 9 Appendix A Waste Exchanges Operating in North America (April, 1994).................................................................................... 10 Appendix B: Materials Available Listed in the SWIX Catalogs ............................................................................... 14 L INTRODUCTION THE WASTE EXCHANGE CONCEPT For many generators, particularly for those generating significant solid and hazardous wastes, practical solutions to waste management problems typically require a multi-faceted approach. Due to the costs resulting from compliance with federal, state and local regulations, many generators are utilizing altematives to landfilling such as waste reduction, recycling, and resource recovery through the services of a waste exchange. Within the last decade, waste exchanges have played an important role in assisting waste generators and others in the identifying recycling and waste minimization opportunities. A variety of factors has created significant incentives for firms, agencies and associations to participate in the activities of waste exchange operations. The increased levels of participation experienced by most waste exchange operations have occurred for a number of reasons. To some extent, the client base of a typical waste exchange has expanded as a result of a change in focus away from "strictly dealiig with hazardous waste" to broader waste management issues including, small quantity generator issues, municipal waste combustion issues, medical waste disposal issues, and other RCRA-related issues. In addition, the tools which waste exchanges typically we have become more sophisticated and, as a result, waste exchanges can provide a broader range of services to an expanded base of clients who are involved with a variety of waste management issues. In the past, a waste exchange would typically publish a periodic newsletter or catalog which would list wastes that were available or wanted for re-use. Today, some waste exchanges publish relatively extensive catalogs that include: display advertising; listings of environmental consultants, manufacturers, legal assistance; regulatory information; lists of 1 .. conferences, training courses, workshops; and other forms of useful information. In addition, some waste exchanges utilize toll-free "hotlines", conduct training courses, operate 24-hour, computer-accessed networks (e.g., bulletin boards) and work closely with agencies and associations to provide services to these clients. There are five groups that typically participate in waste exchange operations and, while some overlap exists, each of these groups may be influenced by a different set of incentives. The five groups of waste exchange participants are the following: 0 mte fenerators (e.g., firm and agencies producing both solid and hazardous wastes and excess or surplus materials); w- 0 w- (e.g., direct users, recyclers, brokers); 0 Frov iders of environmental eoods a nd serviw (e.g., manufacturers, consultants); . federa 1. state and local agencia (e.g., regulatory, commerce- oriented); and . Usociations.. (e.& trade associations and Chambers of Commerce). While the primary participants of a waste exchange are waste generators and waste demanders, there has been relatively rapid growth of participation by the other three groups over the last five years, particularly with waste exchanges that publish catalogs containing display advertising, regulatory information and other information that is of use to waste generators. There are two basic types of waste exchanges: information exchanges (or clearinghouses) and material exchanges. The function of the clearinghouse type of exchange is to inform and bring together waste 2 generators and waste users. An information exchange will typically function as a non-profit organization. The material exchange differs from the clearinghouse in that it either operates as a broker between waste generators and waste users or it will take possession of the material and perform whatever functions (e.g., reprocessing, packaging, marketing) are required in order to market the material. A material exchange often functions as a for- profit organization. There are fifty waste exchanges operating in North America. Forty- nine of these exchanges are non-profit waste information exchanges and one is a for-profit waste material exchange. Appendix A is a list of the waste exchanges operating in North America. JI, HISTORICAL OVERVIEW OF THE SOUTHERN WASTE INFORMATION EXCHANGE (SWIX) CLEARINGHOUSE Responding to a need to assist in the management of solid and hazardous waste in the state of Florida, the Florida State University in conjunction with the Florida Chamber of Commerce began the operation of the Florida Waste Information exchange (FWIX) in 1981. In 1982, the FWIX significantly expanded its service area to the southern region of the United States in order to improve the waste recycling and reuse opportunities for Florida firms, as well as to more effectively respond to the many inquiries from firms outside of the state of Florida. In order to reflect its expanded service area, the FWIX changed its name to the Southern Waste Information exchange (SWIX).In 1984, the Virginia Waste exchange merged it activities with the SWIX. In 1988, SWIX introduced a toll-free hotline for use by waste managers, generators and local governments in the US. in an effort to increase service. 3 The SWIX operates as a non-profit clearinghouse for information on: the availability of and demand for waste materials; waste management services and products; and state and federal regulations that affect waste management. A primary objective of the SWIX is to actively facilitate the recycling and minimization of waste materials which, if improperly managed, can adversely affect human health and the environment. To facilitate this objective, the SWIX publishes and distributes catalogs to firms in over 500 industries. The SWIX Catalog is distributed to firms in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, and the Bahamas. The SWIX Catalog includes waste materials that are "available" from and "wanted by both privately-owned firms and public agencies. Many of the waste materials included in the SWIX Catalog are listed so as to keep confidential the identity of the firm or agency listing the material. As a result, a firm wishing to obtain information concerning the waste materials included in the SWIX Catalog will usually need to complete and return an inquiry form (a copy of which is in the Catalog). This inquiry form is then sent to the respective firm or agency. The firm or agency receiving the inquiry form then decides whether to initiate any action with the firm or agency making the inquiry. The negotiations conceming any subsequent transfers are handled directly by the two entities. Using such an approach, the identity of the firm or agency listing the material remains confidential, and the SWIX functions only to initiate and facilitate potential transfers. 4 IU. WASTE MATERIALS SUITABLE FOR EXCHANGE Although the title of this section emphasizes waste materials, the recycling of other commodities is also possible. A more inclusive title might be "Materials Suitable for Investment Recovery" because the concept of resource reuse can be applied to surplus equipment, unused supplies, and discontinued products as well as wastes requiring disposal. Increasing the amount of knowledge concerning waste management altematives is necessary in order to encourage waste generators and users to transfer or exchange wastes for their mutual benefit. Waste exchange operators have played a major role in increasing the awareness of the benefits of waste re-use. It is possible to view each segment of the materials transfer continuum as either a catalyst or an inhibitor. The optimal situation is one in which all parties (including generators, waste exchanges, brokers, governmental agencies and users) serve as a catalyst to encourage successful transfers of waste for re-use. The universe of potentially transferable materials is large. As a result, waste exchanges throughout North America have cooperatively established eleven standard categories for the listing of potentially transferable materials in both "materials available" and "materials wanted". These eleven categories are: acids; alkalis; other inorganic chemicals, solvents; other organic chemicals; oils