From trash to treasure – the online marketplace for business waste

As the saying goes, one person’s trash is another person’s treasure!

With ASPIRE, businesses can trade, exchange or sell unwanted waste. Surplus or unwanted goods are matched with businesses seeking them.

Listing businesses reduce disposal costs. Businesses that need inputs have an easy way to find them. And less waste goes to landfill. It’s a win for everyone!

Ready to sign up?

What is ASPIRE?

ASPIRE is an online marketplace businesses to list and exchange material resources locally.

It was designed by the CSIRO to:

Help businesses become more sustainable
Divert waste from landfill
Help build a circular economy
Support new collaborations.

More than 500 businesses across Australia have already joined up and diverted 45,000 tonnes of waste from landfill.

Who can get involved?

ASPIRE connects businesses that need inputs with those that have resources to share.

Whether you are a brewer that produces spent grain, a builder who sends excess timber to landfill or a manufacturing business looking for old tyres to turn into products, ASPIRE is for you.

It’s ideal for businesses that don’t have anywhere to store waste and a great solution for businesses that spend a lot on waste disposal costs.

Almost every business, large or small, can benefit from joining up!

Manufacturers and re-manufacturers
Local businesses
Construction and trades
Landscaping
Schools and community groups
R&D projects / innovation
Retail, hospitality and events venues
Recyclers.

Items that can be listed

More than 180 different items can be listed as wanted, for sale or to swap on ASPIRE. They include:

Batteries
Pallets
Styrofoam
Metal /steel
Foam
Cardboard
Polypropylene
Soft plastics
Tyres
Plastic containers
Food waste / organics
Compostables

How your business can benefit

There are loads of benefits to getting involved. Most importantly, you get to feel good about diverting waste from landfill!

How does it work?

Complete the registration form on the ASPIRE website. Once your account has been activated, you’ll receive an email with login details. Thanks to support from Sunshine Coast Council, it’s currently free for Sunshine Coast businesses with an ABN and less than 100 employees.
You are now ready to connect with businesses for resource exchange transactions.
If you have unwanted resources such as electronics, wood, metal or by-product, list them for other businesses to source and use. Add as much detail as you can and some photos.
If you are seeking resources, add the details and quantities.
ASPIRE’S algorithm generates potential matches based on your profile, saving you time searching for opportunities. Get alerted by email when a potential match is found or log in anytime and search the database.
Once you have a match, the two organisations communicate the details of the exchange or sale via the ASPIRE platform.

Meet Chad: He’s here to help you get started

Chad Buxton is working with Sunshine Coast Council to support local businesses to get started with ASPIRE. He’s the founder of a consultancy called Circular Communities, a marine scientist, keen surfer and super passionate about helping local businesses reduce their waste.

Chad can answer all your questions about ASPIRE, talk you through the set up process and help you create your first listing.

If your Sunshine Coast business, school or community group is keen to find out more give Chad a call on 0400 280 548 or send an email through this link

What businesses say about ASPIRE

"Miles Plastics is a local second generation business on the Sunshine Coast. Craig says "We know the impact of plastics and already separate our waste. There are significant costs in waste disposal so it makes sense but we really just want to find solutions. We don't want to send our waste to landfill and are happy to give it away and connect to those who can use it."

– Craig Janzs

“I don’t feel right about throwing away things that could be useful. It really bothers me. ASPIRE provides an opportunity to connect with composters for any excess food waste or plastic recyclers for buckets and tubs used for some of our ingredients.”

– Hayley, Mill Street Café, Nambour

“I estimate we collected around a football field of electronics last year. People don’t really know where to take their electronics. Our business fills that gap and ensures electronic waste is reused and diverted from landfill.”

– Tiko Gawin, A Tech Recyclers.

“It made us stop and think about how we can use waste better. Everyone wants to be greener and we all want to show that we’re being green. But this is a tool where we can actually track it. And I think when you see it on a dashboard, you strive better and better to get those numbers up.”

– Samantha Mucci, Casafico.