Join the neighbourhood-wide treasure hunt on Giveaway Weekend

Giveaway Weekend takes place Saturday, May 30 and Sunday, May 31.

We’re bringing back Giveaway Weekend on Saturday, May 30 and Sunday, May 31 to help reduce waste and encourage reuse.

Giveaway Weekend is the perfect opportunity to clear out the things you no longer need, help a neighbour find something they’ll love, and keep perfectly good items out of the landfill. 

Simply put your gently used items at the curb and let someone else give it a second life. Then take a stroll through your neighbourhood and see what hidden gems are out there waiting for you. You never know what you might find!

Giveaway items could include:

• Books, CDs, DVDs
• Children’s toys and clothes
• Furniture and small appliances in working condition
• Tools in working condition
• Kitchen gadgets, dishes, cutlery, pots and pans
• Unwanted gifts
• Musical instruments
• Sporting equipment
• Bicycles
• Yard and garden equipment
• Plants and potted trees

Only place safe, reusable items at the curb. Please do not give away car/booster seats, baby gates, baby walkers, cribs/cradles, helmets, bedding, mattresses or food.

At the end of your day, bring any uncollected items back inside. Items that are not taken can be donated to charitable organizations, shared through your local Buy Nothing Facebook group or posted on other free exchange websites. For ways to donate bulky items or textiles, and quick tips to reduce waste, visit: ottawa.ca/WasteReductionand select the options on the left to get more specific details.

For more information on rules for setting out items and Giveaway Weekend etiquette visit ottawa.ca/giveaway.

Turn your great finds into great prizes

We want to see your treasures! To celebrate the return of Giveaway Weekend, we’re offering the chance for two residents to win one of two prizes:

• For finding a kid-related treasure: One session of low ratio child swimming lessons (value $150)
• For other treasures: a $150 Ottawa Farmers’ Market gift card

To enter:

• Follow us on Facebook, Instagram or Bluesky.
• Share a photo or short video of what you found on Facebook, Instagram or Bluesky between Saturday, May 30 and Monday, June 15. Consider the privacy of your neighbours when taking photos or video.  
• Use #OttHiddenTreasure and tag us @en.ottawa (Bluesky), @cityofottawa (Instagram) or City of Ottawa (Facebook) so we can find your entry. Note if your profile is set to private, we won’t be able to see your entry. 

Full contest terms and conditions: ottawa.ca/giveaway

O’Connor Street auction

Looking to reduce and reuse in other ways? As part of the City’s ongoing work to transform a former hotel on O’Connor Street into more than 120 new family transition housing units, a plethora of brand new or gently used items from the hotel are being auctioned. The proceeds will be reinvested into housing and homelessness services. For more information, visit ottawa.ca.