Guest Column, Winter 2005

MarinMax: A New Materials Exchange in Marin County

The County of Marin is committed to continuously researching new methods of diverting and reducing waste from Marin’s landfill, and enhancing the existing recycling and reuse programs.

Recently, the Marin County Department of Public Works developed the Marin County Materials Exchange, www.MarinMax.org. This website is a free materials exchange site that allows individuals and organizations to donate and receive previously owned and reusable items. The MarinMax website has been modeled after the California Materials Exchange, www.CalMAX.org, NapaMax, and SonoMax. The County of Marin Department of Public Works is working in partnership with CalMAX to share listings in order to maximize the success of both programs. Citizens and businesses in Marin County can use MarinMax not only to recycle, but also to participate in a large-scale reuse project.

Marinfo LLC designed the MarinMax website as well as www.marinrecycles.org and www.marin.org, which the company maintains. With the expertise of Marinfo’s website developers, the county has created a state-of-the-art materials exchange site with a reuse grant from the California Integrated Waste Management Board. A materials exchange site is an automated reuse program that is proven to be less expensive to operate, serves a valuable purpose to the residents, and contributes to the health of the environment.

The site has three major features. Customers can create, browse, and confirm a listing. "Create" will allow site members to post listings and pictures of a wanted or available item. Materials can include furniture, appliances, agricultural goods, construction supplies, clothing, and various other items. "Browse" allows visitors to search for materials they may need for their business or personal use. While browsing, a user of the site can contact the listing party by clicking one button. After a user contacts a member who has posted an item and the material has changed hands, they can "confirm" their transaction. Confirming a transaction enables the County of Marin to monitor the quantity and characteristics of material.

For the last 30 years Marin has set the guiding principle for responsible waste management practices. For the past three years the County of Marin has generated the highest countywide diversion rate in California by consistently preventing more than 70 percent of the waste stream from going to landfill. Marin County Department of Public Works and the Marin County Hazardous and Solid Waste Joint Powers Authority are continually striving to recycle and reuse a larger percentage of the county’s waste stream.

Marin has remained a leader in sustainability and environmental concern through the use of cutting-edge recycling and reuse programs. These programs include the Marin Household Hazardous Waste Facility, a gas lawnmower buyback day, and the creation of Marin’s recycling website, www.marinrecycles.org.

The MarinMax materials exchange website is the next step towards the county’s goal of zero waste. MarinMax was completed in early November 2004 and is currently in use. Marin County staff’s next step will be to implement an extensive advertising campaign. The county has developed brochures and newspaper advertisements and will also target the local construction industry through the Marin Builders Association.

This article was contributed by Alex Soulard, Marin County staff.

To become a member of MarinMax, visit www.MarinMax.org. If you have questions or comments please e-mail info@marinmax.org, or call Marin County Department of Public Works, waste management department, at (415) 499-6647.

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Last updated: August 01, 2008