Brazil's National Waste Exchange will help set up trade in industrial waste among companies through an Internet site. The aim is to promote financial and environmental benefits while preventing industrial materials from being dumped in the environment and reducing the use of raw materials.

André Vilhena, director of the non-governmental Entrepreneurial Commitment to Recycling, told Tierramérica that the Exchange is “interesting”, but warned of the danger of price speculation and the need to “respect the technical conditions for transport and storage” to avoid any harm to the environment from this endeavor.

The initiative, presented Jul. 8, will integrate existing exchanges in different states, allowing trade not only among businesses in the same state but across regions. Seven of Brazil's 26 states will participate in the first phase, with six more joining in the second phase.