Freecycle!

One man's trash is another man's treasure. But how does Mr. Trash find Mr. Treasure?

They want to get together. Mr. Trash doesn't want to pay to have his stuff hauled away, or maybe he just doesn't like to be wasteful. But if the cost of exchanging information is excessive, waste is the only option.

It's a basic information technology problem, greatly improved by the internet's radical cuts in the price of information. One great solution Freecycle, a a grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving (& getting) stuff for free in their own towns. Check it out: http://www.freecycle.org

Since I'm in Seattle, I use the Seattle freecycle list, but there's probably one near you: check here. If not, start your own and reap the benefit!