New website allows construction firms to list, buy and sell used materials
A new online platform called the BMEx Marketplace is helping Vancouver Island businesses reduce construction waste by enabling them to exchange used or excess building materials. Developed by sustainability organization Light House and built on Rheaply’s reuse platform, BMEx promotes a circular economy by allowing companies to list, sell, and acquire surplus items like wood, concrete, glass, and doors. Supported by regional governments, the free site aims to minimize landfill waste—construction and demolition materials made up nearly 23% of Hartland Landfill’s intake in 2021. A physical reuse hub in Nanaimo is also set to launch this spring. The initiative is part of a broader effort by Light House to shift from a linear, waste-heavy model to a more sustainable system of reuse. Industry professionals like Kris Hansen of Hansenbuilt Design welcome the marketplace as a tool to reduce environmental impact and keep valuable materials in circulation. Learn more about this website.
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