How To Use MME

The MME website is designed to be quick and easy to use. To search our database of "wanted" and "available" listings, click on "Search Listings". To create a listing, click on "Create Listings". Both features include simple, straightforward instructions. For more detailed information about MME, please scroll down through the following answers to frequently asked questions. If you still have questions, you can contact the MME Administrator at the phone number or e-mail address posted at the bottom of every page on this website.

What are the benefits of using a material exchange?

  • Obtain valuable materials and feedstock for little or no cost rather than buying new materials.
  • Reduce transportation and disposal costs.
  • Discover reuse markets for materials normally discarded.
  • Profit from sales of materials that otherwise would be considered waste.
  • Reduce demand on natural resources.

Who can use MME? 

Businesses, industries, farms and ranches, government agencies, schools, congregations, and other organizations and institutions can all save resources and money by using the MME. 

Can I use MME if I'm not from Montana?

Yes! The online listing forms and search features are designed to accommodate listings from other states and other countries. Just leave Montana-specific fields (such as the "County" field) blank. The "State" field on the registration form can be set to blank by scrolling up in the pulldown menu. To find a directory of material exchanges throughout North America, go to our Helpful Links page.

Does it cost anything to use the MME? 

MME is a not-for-profit bulletin board service. Listings are FREE, no finder's or subscription fees are charged.

How do I find listings for materials I could use? 

The MME website features a searchable database of wanted and available listings. There are a variety of search options on the "Search Listings" page.

  • To view all current listings just scroll to the bottom of the form without changing any of the fields and click the "Search Listings" link at the bottom of the form. To focus your search, change one or more of the fields. All fields are optional.
  • You can type any word (For example: "lumber") into the Keyword search field and MME will pull up all listings containing that word in the material name or material description. If you enter more than one word in the keyword field (for example: "dimensional lumber"), the database will only display exact matches (listings for "dimensional lumber" will be displayed, but listings for "lumber" will not).
  • You can specify that you want to view only wanted or available listings or both.
  • You can search by material type category (construction, agricultural, solvents, etc.)
  • You can also conduct geographical searches (City, County, Region, State/Country). The dropdown lists only display cities, counties and states/countries for which there are current listings. More specific locations will supercede broader geographic areas. For example, if you select both "Montana" and "Billings", only listings in Billings will be displayed.
  • You can refine your search using different combinations of fields. For example, you might select "Wanted", "Construction Materials" and "Billings".
  • You can click on "View New Listings" to view only listings that have been posted in the last 30 days. 

All records that match your search criteria will be displayed as an abbreviated list. To view all the details of any particular listing, just click "view details" to get the "Listing Details" page.  This page includes a description of the wanted or available material, the location and contact information for the listing party, and usually many other details such as cost, packaging and delivery information.

How do I create a listing? 

Click on "Create Listings". If you are a new user, you will need to register your contact information before you login.Once you have registered as a user, login with your first and last names and telephone number. Then fill out the "Material Listing" form. If certain fields are not relevant to the listing you are submitting leave them blank. There are only five mandatory fields (marked with a green checkbox symbol). At the bottom of the form you can specify that an available material is free to schools, charities or government agencies. You can also specify that availability of a material is restricted to qualified parties only.The MME Administrator reviews all listings to ensure that they are acceptable.

What is MME's policy on acceptable and unacceptable listings? 

Please review the Guidelines page.

Why are users required to register? 

If you are a new user, the first time you click on "Create Listings" you will be asked to register your contact information. MME remembers this information so that you don't have to re-enter it every time you create a new listing. Registering also allows both you and the MME Administrator to easily keep track of all of your listings.All information you provide on the "Registration" form EXCEPT FOR YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS will be available to MME users so that they can easily contact you, and so that they can easily find your listing if they are searching by city, county, region or state/country. Your e-mail address will never be displayed on the MME website. You can designate any listing as confidential, in which case your contact information will only be available to the MME administrator.Once you have registered, any time you go to the MME website and click on "Create Listings", "View Your Listings", or "Edit Your Registration" you will first be asked to login with your first and last names and telephone number.

How do confidential listings work? 

If a user checks "Confidential" in the second field of the "Material Listing" form, their contact information for that listing will only be available to the MME Administrator.When a user clicks "View Details" for a confidential listing they will be able to see the city, county, and state/country where the material is located, however no contact information will appear. They can either call or email the MME Administrator, who can pass their enquiry on to the listing party, or they can click on the "Click here to email…" link at the bottom of the screen. This link generates a form that can be used to e-mail the listing party, however the listing party's email address is not displayed.

How do I change or delete one of my listings? 

Click "View Your Listing". From this screen you will have the option to edit or delete each of your listings. For your security, whenever you make changes to a listing, or request to delete a listing, an email message is automatically generated to the email address you entered in the "Registration" form. This email will include information about your listing, followed by a web link that you must click to confirm the changes you requested. 

If you have completed a successful exchange, please fill out the User Survey. In order to ensure continued funding for this free service, it is critical for MME staff to document successful exchanges.

How do I change my contact information or remove myself from the MME database?

To change your contact information, click on "View Your Listings" to get to your personal "Current Listings" page. Above the table with your listings there will be a link that you can click to change your contact information. Any changes you make will be automatic, unless you change your email address. Changes to your email address will not take effect until the MME Administrator contacts you to confirm the change.To be removed from the MME database, just call or e-mail the MME Administrator.

How long will my listings stay up on the site? 

The MME Administrator tries to contact the listing party if no changes have been made to a listing after six months. Failure to respond will result in the listing being removed. 

Why is it important for MME to know when I have made a successful exchange?

In order to ensure continued funding for this free service, it is critical for MME staff to document successful exchanges. If you make a successful exchange through the MME, please fill out the User Survey.

Does MME act as a broker for materials listed on the website? 

MME is purely a bulletin board service. Actual transactions and arrangements, such as price, transportation costs, and handling are the sole responsibility of the exchange participants. MME staff do not take possession or handle materials or money under any circumstances.

Is the MME mailing list ever released for commercial use?

User information is never released for commercial purposes.