Greater Victoria businesses are taking part in a new building material exchange program, which aims to decrease the amount of valuable construction materials ending up in landfills.
The Building Material Exchange program (BMEx), launched by Vancouver-based organization Light House, connects companies which have excess, unused, or salvaged building materials with others in need of affordable, high-quality, local resources to begin or complete projects.
Materials accepted through the BMEx program include, concrete, aggregates, asphalt, metal, wood, glass, carpet, doors, flooring, drywall and fixtures.
According to Light House, Victoria-based casting concrete company Szolyd is one business that has benefited from the program, developing mass timber accessories by utilizing reused building materials.
“BMEx is for any business in South or Central Vancouver Island that has a surplus of building or design-related materials they don’t need,” said Gil Yaron, a managing director at Light House, in a news release. “Their perfect match is out there – a local business or organization that is seeking more affordable materials.”
The program is free to sign up and participate in and is funded by the Capital Regional District, the Regional District of Nanaimo’s Zero Waste Recycling Fund and the Cowichan Valley Regional District.
An interactive business pitch event will be held in Victoria on Nov. 6, for interested parties to learn more about the program. At the event, there will be an opportunity for eight businesses to pitch to an audience of local community members, investors and innovators about a challenge they are facing.
To learn more about BMEx visit the website: www.light-house.org/bmex/.
