Green Hands USA: America Volunteers

Got something sitting around your house that you don't need any more? Throw it away -- by giving it to someone else.

A new site called Throwplace.com helps people with extra goods connect with other people who might need them, all for free. Let's say you have a box of pencils you don't need. You can post them on Throwplace and someone else can come pick them up from you. The goods get used, rather than disposed of, and someone else gets the benefit of your generosity.

Similarly, if you need something, you can search on Throwplace to find out if anyone in your area is giving that item away. You save money, you help someone clean out their home, and you keep goods from going to waste.

This is a parelel idea to Freecycle, which we're written about here before, but there are a few key differences. With Freecycle, you need to sign up for your local "group," so you only see goods in your immediate vicinity. Also, with Throwplace, you can opt to only give your "throw-aways" to registered non-profits, like local animal shelters, and you'll get a tax-deductible receipt for your donation.

Businesses can sign up for Throwplace, too, offering a good way to save money or put things you don't need anymore to good use.

Both Throwplace and Freecycle are putting the power of the Internet to good use by keeping items out of landfills, saving people money and ensuring that goods get used to their utmost capacity. As the old saying goes, reduce, re-use, recycle -- and you can do all three by signing up for both of these services.

Give 'em a spin. You won't regret it.