With the exceptions noted below, any material that would otherwise be discarded as waste can be listed on LACoMAX by any individual, business, or organization.
Although LACoMAX encourages listings of a wide variety of material types, some materials
are not appropriate for the exchange. Specific materials and material types that
are not acceptable are automobiles, food and food wastes, firearms, ammunition,
and explosive materials. This is not a complete list of excluded materials, and
LACoMAX reserves the right to exclude other materials.
In addition to excluded materials, we do not accept listings from businesses or
individuals interested in selling used items at market value. Items with established
resale markets would be better served by utilizing local advertising options. Some
material types, such as appliances, furniture, clothing, jewelry, and household
items, are more appropriate for listing through other resources - you might consider
donating these items to a nonprofit organization. If you are not sure whether your
material is acceptable for listing on our exchange, we suggest that you browse our
Materials Reuse Links. There you will find links to organizations that may be interested
in receiving your donated materials. If any of the listed organizations accept the
type of material that you have available, then we encourage you to patronize that
organization. If you still have doubts about the acceptability of your material
on our exchange, fill out the "POST ITEM" form and send it to us. We will notify you
if we determine that your material is not acceptable for listing on LACoMAX.
LACoMAX does not accept listings for hazardous wastes; however, a hazardous substance
which is packaged in its original unopened container and made available for its
original intended purpose may be acceptable for listing on the exchange.
LACoMAX users assume full responsibility for knowing what materials constitute a
hazardous waste and what legal limitations and restrictions may exist on the exchange
and transportation of any listed material. Although not responsible for the determination
of what is or is not a hazardous waste, LACoMAX offers the following abridged definition
from Section 25117 of the Health and Safety Code of the State of California as general
information: Hazardous waste means a waste, or combination of wastes, which because
of its quantity, concentration, or physical, chemical, or infectious characteristics
may either:
- Cause, or significantly contribute to an increase in mortality or an increase in
serious irreversible, or incapacitating reversible, illness.
- Pose a substantial present or potential hazard to human health or the environment
when improperly treated, stored, transported, disposed of, or otherwise managed.
LACoMAX is not a medium for businesses or individuals to advertise products for
sale, even products manufactured from feedstock (i.e., discarded materials) obtained
through LACoMAX. Other outlets exist for that purpose. Only materials that are truly
discards and would otherwise be destined for disposal are acceptable for listing
on the exchange.
LACoMAX's on-line service is provided as a local program for the benefit of Los
Angeles County residents, businesses, organizations, and institutions. If you live
outside the county, you may post listings for wanted materials but not for available
materials. This is in keeping with the program's intent to find alternative uses
for discarded materials generated by businesses and others within the County.
In order to preserve the intent of LACoMAX, only discarded materials that are generated
by a resident, business, organization, or institution are generally appropriate
for listing on the exchange. LACoMAX does not accept listings for "available materials"
from brokers or recyclers who derive a significant portion of their revenue from
the resource recovery business, except under special circumstances. Although brokers
provide a valuable service within the recycling market, they do not generate the
discarded materials that they sell and, therefore, may not list them. Individual
exceptions, however, may be made. If you are a broker with free, non-scrap items,
such as closeout items or overstock, please contact LACoMAX to discuss your listing, especially if
you are interested in donating the items to schools or nonprofit organizations.
The address, phone number, and email address for LACoMAX are located at the bottom
of every page. Brokers are encouraged to use LACoMAX to list wanted materials or
to respond to listings of available materials.