Gil Yaron, managing director of circulation innovation at Light House, a Vancouver-based non-profit, is thrilled about his new venture. He describes the Building Material Exchange (BMEx) as the 'Tinder of the construction sector,' a platform designed to connect construction companies, developers, and renovation contractors with the goal of recycling tonnes of building material waste on Vancouver Island.
BMEx isn't just about reducing waste; it's about building relationships that benefit both developers and the environment. Recently, over 150 development industry leaders met in Nanaimo and Victoria to forge partnerships and keep waste materials in circulation. The program, funded by regional districts, is free to join and aims to showcase the value of project leftovers. In early 2025, BMEx will launch an online marketplace, a business-to-business platform where companies can list and exchange excess or salvaged construction materials. Yaron believes this will create a formal program that simplifies material exchange, ultimately leading to cost savings for companies as material costs rise and landfill tipping fees increase