Giveaway Day allows Kingston residents to #WasteNotYGK

This Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021, is Giveaway Day, a time when area residents can put items they no longer want out by the curb to allow others who might want the items to pick them up.

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 Twitter with the hashtag #WasteNotYGK and #ygk.

“Remember to maintain physical distance and wear a face covering as needed when putting out/collecting items on Giveaway Day,” the City said in a release dated Monday, Aug. 16, 2021.

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

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 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.