How can municipal governments help the environment while saving taxpayers dollars? Make a way for citizens to do it for themselves. That's the conclusion the City of Ottawa reached in 2007 through its first “Give Away Weekend.”

The idea is quite simple: twice a year the city declares a “Give Away Weekend.” People then put their unwanted items on the curb with the sign “free” placed beside. Any passer-by can take them. Holding the event at a city-wide level means bargain hunters and the under-privileged are sure to be on the look-out, given that “one person's junk is another one's treasure.”

Just ask Lorianne Garrison of the Ottawa Citizen. During the initial 2007 event, she furnished an entire apartment through the giveaway. Her article, “Six hours, zero dollars, one furnished apartment,” records how she found a free couch, bookshelves, coffee table, bed frame, mattress, rugs, knick-knacks and books.

Treasure-seekers weren't the only beneficiaries. Donors were spared a trip to the dump or an over-full garbage bin. They also get the satisfaction of knowing that items that are useless to them are being put to good use by someone else.

Doubtless, there are a few social benefits too. Allowing the less fortunate to get for free what they can't afford themselves benefits their lives.

The best news for taxpayers is that landfills aren't filled with perfectly usable items. Landfill workers often report that many useful items—electronic or otherwise—needlessly fill dumps. However, most landfills—and even recycling depots—don't allow employees or anyone else to take such items. That problem is solved when people get a crack at items before they're put in the garbage.

Beyond that, politicians are always attempting to be seen as trying to be ‘green.’ This often means the creation of some expensive, bureaucratic program. “Give Away Weekend” and other common-sense ‘green’ initiatives are virtually cost-free and should be embraced by politicians looking to ‘green-up’ their complexion.

On a broader scale, extending the useful life of products means lower consumption of energy and resources in the extraction of raw materials and manufacturing. It's the most sensible form of conservation, the kind that ensures that the fruits of workers' labours last longer.

The City of Ottawa also goes the extra mile. Whether in the spring or fall, “Give Away Weekend” in Ottawa caps a special week of environmental focus. In spring, it's “Environment Week,” and in fall it's “Waste Reduction Week.” The website for ”Give Away Weekend” also gives other suggestions for unwanted items that divert them from landfills. These include links to other websites that facilitate re-using or re-selling items, such as Craigslist and Kijiji.

Ottawa is holding their event June 6 and 7, but they soon may not be alone. Thanks to a push from the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, the City of Winnipeg is giving the idea serious thought. In Saskatchewan, White City and Emerald Park have held a similar event for years, though it's actually a town-wide garage sale. Doubtless, free items have been placed on the curb before.

And free is the right price for bargain hunters, environmentalists, municipal politicians wanting to look green and most importantly – taxpayers.