matX introduces innovative approaches to material reuse in WA’s construction industry
The matX – Goods and Materials Exchange Platform (matX) is an online marketplace, designed specifically for the construction industry to advertise goods and materials that satisfies the disposal hierarchies for both state and project assets. These goods and materials include extracted, used, surplus and temporary works resources.
The Transport Portfolio is taking steps to actively encourage transition to circular economy across construction in Western Australia. In May 2023, the Transport Portfolio adopted matX to help the Office of Major Transport Infrastructure Delivery (OMTID) program reduce greenhouse gas emissions, reduce waste and recoup value from resources left over at the end of projects. Value is recouped by both keeping resources in use and at their highest value and reducing disposal costs, which can be up to two percent of the total construction outlay.
Since adoption, the matX team has been continually collaborating with the OMTID Delivery Partners to overcome barriers to reuse and recycling in the construction industry. This includes a better understanding of material reuse constraints to improve environmental, commercial and data capture of material disposal processes.
Challenges and outcomes
The adoption and implementation of new systems and ways of working in the construction industry is challenging. Adopting matX was the first step but to use the platform effectively, a number of changes were required. The main changes were improvements to project’s asset disposal hierarchies and updating delivery partner’s commercial processes, so they are capable of savaging value from resale in addition to procuring resources.
www.matX.com.au “Get Started” page.
Since finalisation of the asset disposal process in May 2024, MELconnx has recovered over $287,000 for the Transport Portfolio. matX also collaborated with Armadale Line Upgrade Alliance (ALUA) Sustainability Officer, Julia Bairstow, who worked across OMTID Delivery Partners to create fields within matX and a common approach to capture kg CO2e- on matX when creating a listing.
Next steps
WA Transport Portfolio will continue to use the Material Reuse Platform across their portfolios. The matX team looks forward to working with government and industry to further optimise the use of recycled and reused materials across Western Australia’s construction industry.
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matX
Cherie Lee