As it’s become politically popular to be seen as “green” (environmentally that is), politicians have been dreaming up all kinds of costly new programs that require new bureaucracies and don’t necessarily achieve their objectives. Thankfully, the latest “green” initiative to come to Manitoba is not only taxpayer-friendly, it will help the environment and the poor.

Known as “giveaway weekends,” the idea has been a success in Ottawa since 2007. The initiative is simple: during a designated weekend, citizens simply put out any unwanted items (that still have life in them) on the curb and slap a sign on them that says “free.” Bargain hunters, the less fortunate and charities are then able to come by and take advantage of the free goods. Whatever isn’t picked up, the owners take back into their homes.
 
The idea has been a huge success in Ottawa. In fact, during their city’s first giveaway weekend, a journalist drove around the city and documented how she picked up enough goods to furnish an apartment. Lamps, candle holders, a coffee table and a bed frame were just some of the products she was able to obtain all for free.
 
No bureaucracy and no massive budget. The idea is basically a coordinated effort to take advantage of the old adage – “one person’s junk is another person’s treasure.”
 
By simply designating a weekend as a “giveaway weekend”, a government can help keep goods out of landfills and thus curb costs associated with bulldozing those products around the dump. Even better, the longer it takes to fill up a landfill, the less tax dollars required to build new landfills.
 
After the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) brought the initiative to the Mayor’s attention, the City of Winnipeg studied the matter and announced that it would pilot a giveaway weekend on September 26-27 of this year.
 
Although the City’s administration recommended spending up to $20,000 to promote the event, the Mayor’s office has committed to the CTF to get the word out through earned media stories and corporate sponsorship.
 
Some naysayers have suggested that giveaway weekends already happen as people already go through other peoples’ trash. That may be so, but it’s a hit and miss approach. If you knew for sure there would be an influx of people out looking for treasures, wouldn’t you be a little bit more willing to drag out that old bookshelf that you wanted to find a good home for?
 
Conversely, if you are struggling to get by, but don’t want to rifle through other people’s trash in a back lane, wouldn’t you like the opportunity of a stigma-free weekend to choose from an influx of free, usable items?
 
Perhaps the best aspect of giveaway weekend, you don’t have to participate - it’s completely voluntary. On that note, if you don’t have anything to put out on giveaway weekend, but are interested in helping out, you can always contact a charity and pick-up products they might need.
 
Giveaway weekends have been a success in Ottawa. There’s no reason why they can’t be a success here in Winnipeg and in other communities across the province. The idea is good for the environment, the less fortunate, politicians and most importantly taxpayers.