Give previously loved items a second chance on Giveaway Day

The second Giveaway Day of 2023 will take place on Saturday, June 17, in the city of Kingston. Giveaway days provide an opportunity for Kingston residents to place unwanted household items out for others in the community who might be able to give the items a second life and keep them out of a landfill.

“Giveaway Days are an effective and unique way to reduce waste in Kingston. When you pick up free second-hand items, you not only save them from landfill – you also reduce the waste associated with packaging and the greenhouse gas emissions associated with manufacturing new goods. Giving away items also helps community members save money,” said Adam Mueller, Supervisor of Solid Waste. 

As part of the City of Kingston’s local waste diversion strategy, participating households are encouraged by the City to post photos of their free items on Instagram or Twitter with the hashtag #WasteNotYGK.

The following guidelines on how to put items out for pick-up, and how to pick items up on Giveaway Day were provided by the City of Kingston:

Only set out appropriate items that you know someone else might want.

• Appropriate: books, CDs, DVDs, furniture and small appliances, electronics, construction materials (including drywall, lumber, hardware), kitchen gadgets, dishes, cutlery, pots and pans and, yes, unwanted gifts.
• Inappropriate: the Consumer Product Safety Bureau of Health Canada advises that these items should not be given away (or picked-up): baby walkers, cribs, car seats, strollers, playpens, bath seats, mattresses, blinds and toys.

How to put items out:

• Place items at the curb in front of your home.
• Place stickers or signs on the items with the word ‘FREE.’
• Ensure any items that you do not want to be taken are kept away from items placed at the curb.
• At the end of the day, bring any uncollected items back in to your home. The City will not collect unwanted items left at the curb. Consider donating them to a charity.

How to pick items up:

• Respect other people’s property: don’t walk on people’s lawns or gardens.
• Take only the items marked ‘FREE’ and placed at the curb.
• Don’t leave previously picked up items on the curb at other people’s property.

For more information on waste diversion from the City, click here.