Success Stories Materials Exchange Program helps local business keep disposal costs down   Betsy Bjerklie, Otter Tail County Solid Waste and Chris Peterson, Thiele Technologies show examples of plastic containers currently listed on Otter Tail County's Materials Exchange List.   Thiele Technologies in Fergus Falls has a unique business, developing the technology for the design of packaging machinery. Thiele, a division of Barry-Wehmiller Companies, Inc., creates a variety of high-speed packaging systems, from state-of-the-art cartoning machinery to automated bag handling, weighing, filling, closing, sealing, and palletizing equipment. As part of the technology development process, they often receive numerous samples to test their machinery. Some recent examples include 9" plastic pie plate covers, plastic produce packaging, and other usable household products. To reduce waste and keep disposal costs down, Thiele Technologies contacted the Otter Tail County Solid Waste Department to have these items placed on the County's Materials Exchange List. With help from the List, Thiele Technologies has been able to distribute many of these sample materials to people and organizations who can use them. There are several advantages to materials exchange and many businesses, organizations and households have had the opportunity to take part in this successful program. The Otter Tail County Materials Exchange has helped Thiele Technologies find a new life for many goods, instead of throwing them in the trash. By utilizing the Materials Exchange Program, Thiele reduced their waste stream significantly and has the added benefit of saving money yearly in disposal costs.