Rules & Policies
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NYC WasteMatch prohibits the listing of a wide variety of items that might be deemed harmful, offensive, or illegal. NYC WasteMatch is designed for nonhazardous materials that would otherwise be discarded. Even if you offer to give away for "free" (rather than sell) a prohibited item, this will not relieve you of liability or absolve your from the responsibility of complying with the User Agreement. This applies to both user and buyer.

Acceptable "Available" Listings

Businesses, government, or institutions/organizations interested in placing items that are potentially reusable to someone else, but currently with little to no market value. Examples include business overruns, seconds, outdated inventory, empty containers, etc. Individual exceptions may be made for marketable items being offered for free or below market value to schools or nonprofit organizations. Businesses, government, or institutions/organizations interested in placing large and/or recurring quantities of recyclable (scrap) materials for which recycling markets are not yet established (such as some types of paper, plastics). These materials may be useable as feedstock for manufacturers, recyclers, or brokers. To determine if there are established recycling markets in your area, contact your local city/county recycling coordinator, or check the yellow pages under Recycling Services. Individuals interested in offering items at significantly below market value or free for reuse by schools or nonprofit organizations.

Acceptable "Wanted" Listings

Businesses, government, or institutions/organizations seeking used items. Examples include used office equipment, building materials, office and art supplies, etc. Manufacturers who are interested in obtaining feedstock materials for the manufacturing of their products. Professional recyclers and brokers interested in obtaining scrap materials. The list below is updated from time to time and is incorporated by reference into the user agreement. These guidelines do not constitute legal advice. If in doubt, check with law enforcement agencies, an attorney or with a copyright, trademark or other rights owner for clarification. NYC WasteMatch has also adopted certain policies regarding prohibited items, regardless of the legality of the item. As an Online Materials Exchange user, you are ultimately responsible for making sure that buying or selling your item(s) is legal in the eyes of the law. If you think you've spotted an item on the Online Materials Exchange that is not allowed, please contact the Site Administrator.

Prohibited Listings

The listing of prohibited items offered below is a sample only and not intended to be exhaustive. Manufacturers/distributors/retailers of recycled content products interested in listing their products. These listers may be able to place a free listing in the NYC WasteMatch Directories Section. Professional recyclers and brokers interested in listing their products. Individual exceptions may be made for items that are not scrap materials, such as a closeout on containers, hangers, fixtures, or some other reusable item, especially if they are free. Businesses or individuals interested in selling used items at market value, such as appliances, furniture, automobiles, etc. Those items with established resale markets would be better served by utilizing local advertising options. Businesses or individuals interested in placing recyclable (scrap) materials with established recycling markets, such as cardboard and white office paper. These listers would be better served by contacting the local city/county recycling coordinator, or check the yellow pages under Recycling Services. Exceptions include those materials suitable in form and quantity for reuse in arts and education applications.

  • Live animals
  • Illegal goods
  • Hazardous materials (for more information on Hazardous Waste, see the EPA website)
  • New (unused) items
  • Advertisements
  • Alcohol
  • Artifacts
  • Autographed Items
  • Batteries
  • Catalogs Contracts & Tickets
  • Counterfeit Items
  • Credit Cards
  • Drugs & Drug Paraphernalia
  • Embargoed Goods
  • Faces, Names & Signatures
  • Firearms
  • Fireworks
  • Freon
  • Fraudulent Items
  • Government IDs & Licenses
  • Hazardous Materials
  • Human Parts
  • Lock Picking Devices or Burglary Tools
  • Lottery Tickets
  • Mailing Lists
  • Offensive Material
    • Adult Items
    • Coarse Language
    • Pornography
  • Police-Related Items
  • Postage Meters
  • Prescription Drugs & Devices
  • Promotional Items
  • Real Estate
    • Timeshares
    • Rentals
    • Homes, Condos, Commercial Property, etc.
  • Recalled Items
  • Spamming (e-mail, key word, etc.)
  • Stocks & Other Securities
  • Stolen Property
  • Surveillance Equipment
  • Tobacco Products
  • Trademarked Items
  • TV Descramblers
  • Weapons & Knives

NYC WasteMatch reserves the right to refer any potentially illegal listing to the appropriate legal authority for prosecution. NYC WasteMatch is committed to assisting the police and prosecutor in any investigation into illegal activity that may have occurred on this site (including, but not limited to prosecution for computer trespass). In addition, the site administrator may, at his or her discretion, temporarily or permanently bar a user from accessing NYC WasteMatch if the user has listed an item that is deemed harmful, offensive, or illegal. NYC WasteMatch disclaimer. NYC WasteMatch staff reserves the right to redirect advertisers to more appropriate sources when necessary.

Special Services

NYC WasteMatch will continue to list specialized reuse and recycling services if they are: free public services; nonprofit organizations; companies that donate a significant portion of their materials for reuse by nonprofits (or act as a conduit for such donations); or if they offer unique information services to assist New Yorkers in the reuse and recycling of specialized materials; or if they cater to specialized industries.

Lister Responsibilities

Please respond to all inquiries, even if only to say that you are not interested. NYC WasteMatch will only work if listers are responsive. If complaints are received that you are not returning phone calls and the problem is not resolved in a timely manner, your listing(s) will be removed. If the number in your listing is on an answer phone or voice mail system, please be sure your full name, and/or business name, as stated in your listing, is mentioned on your outgoing message. Otherwise, respondents have no way of knowing if they have reached the right party. Listers should remove their NYC WasteMatch listing if no longer valid and report all successful exchanges. This feedback is absolutely critical to justify the continuation of this program.

Complaints and Compliments

We appreciate any constructive feedback that you would like to offer, be it a compliment or a complaint. Please use the email address or phone number at the bottom of this page. Every one of your good ideas is implemented, as long as it is possible to do and benefits NYC WasteMatch overall. Your feedback is our only way of knowing what does and does not work in the real world of NYC WasteMatch. Please do not hesitate to tell NYC WasteMatch coordinators what you think and how we can serve you better! Before you create a listing, please also read the Listing Policy. Also, all NYC WasteMatch users should review the disclaimer. If you are still unsure about listing an item, contact the Site Administrator