Material Exchange Directory

Material Exchange

A material exchange is a program or platform (online or in-person) that helps people give, get or share goods and materials directly with others. It’s about connecting a person who has extra materials with someone who needs it, without a third-party business (like a thrift store or pawn shop) taking ownership.

Using a material exchange might look like:

• Posting items you no longer need—like tools, furniture or leftover building materials on a digital reuse platform so others can claim or buy them
• Browsing listings for second-hand items you want to buy or trade like clothing, electronics or office supplies
• Attending a community swap event where you can drop off items and pick up something new, all in one place
• Sharing, borrowing or lending items such as tools, kitchen appliances, books or gear directly with neighbours through a peer‑to‑peer platform

Some material exchanges are fully digital, like online marketplaces or donation platforms. Others are in-person, like nonprofit-run swap events. If a nonprofit or charity temporarily takes possession of items for up to one week to facilitate redistribution, it is still considered a material exchange under this program.

Material exchanges help keep useful items in circulation by reducing waste, saving money and supporting Toronto’s vision for a zero waste future and a circular economy. They can include everything from household goods and clothing to industrial materials like lumber, offcuts and spare parts.

About the Directory

Published Information

If accepted to participate in the City of Toronto’s Material Exchange Directory program, the City will display on its online Material Exchange Directory the organization’s following information:

• Name of the program
• Description of the organization’s material exchange program
• Location of the organization’s material exchange events (if applicable)
• The common materials that are exchanged, and
• A link to the organization’s website and socials

Eligibility

Listing Criteria

To be listed, your organization must operate a material exchange program that enables direct user to user exchanges and serves Toronto. Examples include:

• Online platforms for trading or donating items
• Digital marketplaces for buying or selling items
• Community swap events
• Peer‑to‑peer sharing or lending networks

Please note: Re-use or re-sale businesses that take ownership or possession of items such as thrift stores, pawn shops and donation centres, and any program where a third-party broker takes ownership or possession of items are ineligible. Please see eligibility criteria listed in the Material Exchange Directory Terms and Conditions for more information.

Organizations operating material exchanges that serve Toronto can apply to be considered for inclusion in the Material Exchange Directory by meeting the Material Exchange Directory program’s eligibility criteria, and completing and submitting the City’s Material Exchange Directory Application Form.

Application Eligibility

To be considered for inclusion in the City of Toronto’s Material Exchange Directory, the organization must operate a material exchange that meets the following criteria.

1. Program Meets the City’s Definition of a Material Exchange

The City defines a “material exchange” as an in-person or online program that allows users to exchange goods and/or materials between each other without a third-party broker taking ownership or possession of the good that is being exchanged, except in the situation of an in-person swap event where a non-profit organization could take possession of the good to be exchanged for a period of no more than one week.

In-person material exchange events or swaps must recur at least twice per year.

Types of programs that could be eligible to participate in the City’s Material Exchange Directory include:

• Relisting websites where people, businesses or organizations can sell used goods
• Facilitated material exchanges (i.e. organization operates a material exchange activity that helps match participants and may facilitate the logistics of the exchange of goods and materials)
• Ongoing or recurring neighbourhood swaps or community marketplaces, both online and in person
• Peer‑to‑peer sharing or lending platforms where neighbours can borrow, lend or share items directly with each other
• Online donation or giveaway groups where users post items for others to claim at no cost

2. Available to Users in Toronto

To be listed in the Material Exchange Directory:

• In-person material exchange programs must be located in Toronto
• Virtual material exchanges must be available to people living in Toronto (i.e., facilitate the exchange of materials by residents and businesses of Toronto)

3. Contributes to At Least One of the City of Toronto’s Circular Economy Goals

Material exchanges can promote a variety of circular economy goals. As part of the organization’s application to the Material Exchange Directory, they must identify which of the following circular economy goals their material exchange program helps achieve:

• Cycling materials within the local economy to prevent waste from entering landfills
• Providing services to businesses that are trying to reduce waste, reuse materials or maximize resource value
• Providing services to individuals that are trying to reduce waste, reuse materials or maximize resource value
• Creating economic opportunities for businesses or individuals by enabling them to re-sell their goods or materials
• Promoting material recovery in construction and demolition activities
• Reducing or minimizing food waste through efforts including but not limited to food redistribution; and
• Creating connections between neighbours and communities

Organizations that operate a variety of material exchange programs are encouraged to apply to participate in the Material Exchange Directory, including both online and in-person material exchange programs across a variety of industries such as construction, fashion and apparel, consumer goods and technology. If you are unsure if your material exchange program fits the eligibility criteria, please contact circulareconomy@toronto.ca.

Organizations that operate the following type of material exchange programs are not eligible to participate in the Material Exchange Directory:

• Traditional reuse or re-sale businesses (such as thrift stores, pawn shops and second-hand stores) are not eligible because they typically take ownership of the goods in the process of the goods being exchanged
• Donation centres are not eligible because they typically take possession of donated goods prior to redistribution, meaning exchanges do not occur directly between users
• One-off material exchange events or swaps that do not take place on a recurring basis (i.e., occur only once per year) are not eligible. Organizers of one-off events should instead explore applying for inclusion on the City’s Festivals and Events Calendar

How to Apply

If you believe your material exchange program meets the above criteria and would like to be considered for inclusion on the City’s Material Exchange Directory, please fill out the following Material Exchange Directory Application Form. As part of this application, you will be required to acknowledge and accept the Material Exchange Directory Terms and Conditions. Please note that the person submitting a Material Exchange Directory Application on behalf of an organization must be able to bind the organization.

If you have any questions about this application or require accessibility accommodations, please contact Ashlee Cooper, Project Lead, Environment, Climate and Forestry Division at 416-396-4889 or circulareconomy@toronto.ca using your business email account.

Inclusion into the Material Exchange Directory is at the City of Toronto’s discretion. The City of Toronto will be reviewing submitted Material Exchange Directory Applications on a rolling basis. The City of Toronto will follow up with applicants for further information if required and to confirm its decision on whether the organization will be included on the Material Exchange Directory. There is no guarantee that the City of Toronto will accept your organization into the Material Exchange Directory. Inclusion on the Material Exchange Directory is free.