Vancouver Island program promotes material reuse
BMEx connects businesses with excess construction materials to those in need of affordable resources.
Key Takeaways:
- The Building Material Exchange (BMEx) program, launched by Light House, connects businesses with excess construction materials to those in need of affordable resources, aiming to reduce construction waste on Vancouver Island.
- The construction industry is a major contributor to waste, with 22.7% of landfill waste on Vancouver Island coming from construction and demolition materials. BMEx aims to divert thousands of tonnes of materials from landfills annually, addressing this environmental challenge.
- The program, supported by regional districts and policy changes like the 2024 Hartland Landfill material ban, plans to expand with an online marketplace and events to promote reuse, highlighting its growing influence and potential for innovation in waste management.
The Whole Story:
A new program on Vancouver Island aims to revolutionize the construction industry’s approach to waste management, potentially diverting thousands of tonnes of materials from landfills annually.
The Building Material Exchange (BMEx) program, launched by Vancouver-based non-profit Light House, connects businesses with excess construction materials to those in need of affordable resources.
The free program serves the construction sector between Nanaimo and Victoria, targeting a significant environmental issue. According to a 2022 study, construction and demolition materials accounted for 22.7% of waste at one Vancouver Island landfill.
BMEx has already attracted over 100 registered companies since its launch, with materials such as concrete, asphalt, metal, wood, glass, and fixtures eligible for exchange.
The program is supported by regional districts and aligns with recent policy changes. In 2024, the Capital Regional District banned multiple types of construction materials from the Hartland Landfill.
Light House plans to expand the program with an online marketplace and is organizing “challenge events” in November to showcase innovative reuse ideas.
Construction waste is a significant environmental challenge in Canada, with the industry generating massive amounts of material that often ends up in landfills. According to recent studies, nearly 4 million tonnes of construction materials are sent to landfill annually in Canada, representing an estimated 1.8 million tonnes of embodied carbon.
In Metro Vancouver alone, approximately 372,000 tonnes of construction and demolition waste were disposed of in 2021. The composition of this waste is particularly concerning, with wood comprising 48% of the estimated construction and demolition waste by weight, or about 177,011 tonnes per year. Plastics and asphalt also make up substantial portions of the waste stream.
