University Park, Pa. -- Penn State's Small Business Development Center (SBDC) now offers assistance using Pennsylvania Material Trader, a new online service that makes it easy to exchange and reuse traditionally discarded materials, such as outdated inventory, used shipping containers, old computer equipment, etc.
According to the Pennsylvania SBDC, Material Trader is a free service designed to match businesses and organizations that produce wastes, by-products or surplus materials with businesses and organizations that need them. The Web site -- http://www.materialtrader.org -- allows users to place materials on the exchange easily, as well as search for and respond to materials already listed. Participants have the option to list their materials confidentially.
"If businesses anywhere in our 19-county area have questions about Material Trader or about how to categorize or register waste materials, we can help," said Denise Bechdel, Penn State SBDC regional environmental specialist.
Bechdel is one of six environmental specialists located throughout the commonwealth who provide free confidential environmental services through the Environmental Management Assistance Program (EMAP). In addition to help with Material Trader, EMAP representatives offer confidential business assistance on environmental compliance, health and safety regulatory standards, pollution prevention and energy efficiency on-site assessments and environmental technology development.
The Small Business Development Centers are funded by the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the U.S. Small Business Administration, the private sector and their host colleges and universities. This support enables consulting services to be provided at no charge.
Bechdel provides help to businesses in Potter, Tioga, Bradford, Cameron, Clearfield, Clinton, Lycoming, Montour, Northumberland, Union, Snyder, Juniata, Perry, Centre, Mifflin, Huntingdon, Blair, Bedford and Fulton counties.
For information about Material Trader or the EMAP program, call Bechdel at (814) 863-4293 or e-mail dlf14@psu.edu