The Building Material Exchange program (BMEx) was launched in Vancouver Island to reduce waste management costs and the amount of valuable construction materials in landfills.

Light House, an organization championing circular practices in the built environment, launched the program.

Businesses in and around Nanaimo, Victoria, Cowichan Valley, Duncan, and the surrounding islands with excess, unused, or salvaged building and/or design-related materials are matched through the BMEx program with others in need of affordable, high-quality, local resources to begin or complete projects.

Materials accepted through the BMEx program include but are not limited to: concrete, aggregates, asphalt, metal, wood, glass, carpet, doors, flooring, drywall, and fixtures.

Coming late fall 2024, participants will also have access to BMEx Marketplace, a digital online platform designed to exchange, donate, or acquire excess, unused, or salvaged building and/or design-related materials. Similar to Facebook Marketplace, the platform will provide a tailored place for the industry to exchange excess and salvaged building materials.

The program is free to sign up.