York Region curbside giveaways: turning trash into treasures

Free giveaways planned for across York Region

Yorkregion.com
August 23, 2019
Kim Zarzour

It’s back-to-school season, a great time to make a fresh start.

Whether you are clearing up the clutter in your garage, basement or closet, or taking on a new project for the fall, York Region’s curbside giveaway this weekend could be just what you’re looking for.

If you live in Georgina, Aurora, King, Newmarket or Vaughan and have unwanted, gently used items, you are invited to place them at the curb Saturday morning, Aug. 24, for other residents to pick up for free.

Past offerings have included furniture, toys, sports equipment and even a piano.

If you are a do-it-yourselfer, this is a great opportunity to pick up, and polish up, a hand-me-down or refurbish a cast-off for a different purpose -- like the Aurora resident who gutted an old console TV and turned it into a rabbit cage.

Items are placed at the curb by 7 a.m. on the morning of Aug. 24.

Anything remaining or not picked up must be brought back inside by 5 p.m. that evening.

The Bindicator waste search directory can provide locations to donate, recycle or dispose of any items that were not picked up.

You can create your own "free" sign or download and print one from york.ca/curbsidegiveaway. Take a picture of your item and post it on the Region of York’s Curbside Giveaway event page on Facebook, and share your offerings and great finds using the #yrcurbalert.

Alternatively, sign up with bunz.com -- an app that will help others find your stuff and help you find great giveaways, too.

Keswick resident Pam Devine says the curbside events have helped her to get rid of things that her family no longer required, such as furniture, toys and books, without having to put them in the garbage. It's not just good for the environment, she says; it’s good for the community, too.

“The concept helps extend the life of products, helps people who need the products and helps people who no longer need the items," she says.

Local towns and cities choose to participate in reuse programs based on their available resources and priorities.

If you miss this weekend’s event, more are planned.

The Town of Aurora will hold additional giveaways Sept. 28 and Oct. 26.

The Town of East Gwillimbury’s is set for Oct. 26.

King Township and the Town of Georgina both have additional giveaways scheduled Sept. 28 and Oct. 26.

The Town of Newmarket and City of Richmond Hill have an additional giveaway date set for Oct. 26.

The City of Vaughan offers curbside giveaway weekends Aug. 24-25, Sept. 28-29 and Oct. 26-27.

Whitchurch-Stouffville has giveaways set for Sept. 21 and Oct. 26.