Recycling Advocate Captures High Honors

A Spokane-based company that helps people trade or recycle industrial and personal items won an award for best business use of the Internet this week. The National Material Exchange Network (NMEN) won the award given out Wednesday by the National Information Infrastructure, a Commerce Deptartment agency working with private industry to promote effective use of computer technology.

NMEN has been in business for several years, starting as a nationwide newsletter aimed at major industrial producers.

It has evolved into both a computer bulletin board and an Internet information source used by more than 5,000 foreign and domestic companies.

It’s helped one shipyard get rid of excess solvent at a savings estimated at close to $280,000.

It’s also helped send leftover popcorn to Midwest farmers, who fed it to pigs.

Though NMEN is based in Spokane, the computer system managing all transactions is in Southern California, said systems operator Bob Smee.

NMEN’s Internet address is: http:/ /www.earthcycle.com/

, DataTimes