Halifax’s Curbside Giveaway Weekend started with one councillor’s request. In January 2010, then Councillor and former Dartmouth Mayor Gloria McCluskey asked HRM staff whether the municipality could hold two weekends a year where residents put unwanted goods at the curb for anyone who could use them.
Staff looked at Ottawa, which started its giveaway in 2007, and Winnipeg, which held its first in September 2009. Their February 2010 report warned that HRM’s every-other-week garbage pickup could leave leftovers sitting at the curb. To deal with that, it set the rule that still applies: bring everything back in once the weekend is over.
HRM held its first giveaway on June 5 and 6, 2010, during Environment Week. The fall edition followed that October, and since then the event has become a spring and fall tradition. HRM did cancel the June 2020 weekend because of COVID-19.
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This fall’s edition runs Saturday, Oct. 17 and Sunday, Oct. 18, rain or shine, across the municipality. Put it at the curb, tape a “FREE” sign on it and let a neighbour haul it away.
To take part, put clean, reusable items in front of your home and keep anything you want well back from the curb. You can pin your items on HRM’s map at halifax.ca/curbside. Skip mattresses and bedding that could carry bed bugs. If you’re out browsing, take only items marked “FREE” and obey traffic laws when you stop.
The weekend kicks off Waste Reduction Week, Oct. 19 to 25, which has been a national event since 2001. HRM has more events around it:
- Halifax Repair Café: Saturday, Oct. 17, 1 to 4 p.m., Veith House, 3115 Veith St. Volunteers fix clothing, small appliances, electronics and furniture for free. The group started monthly sessions at Keshen Goodman Public Library in June.
- Food Isn’t Garbage and vermicomposting sessions: Sunday, Oct. 18, 3 to 4 p.m., Halifax Central Library, and Friday, Oct. 23, 1 to 2 p.m., Alderney Gate Public Library. You have to register.
- Shred Instead: Saturday, Oct. 24, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., StoneRidge Church, 85 Temple Terrace, Lower Sackville. Bring up to three boxes of household paper. HRM’s free shredding days date back to October 2008.
Anything left over has to be off the curb by dusk on Sunday, Oct. 18.
More here: HRM: Curbside Giveaway Weekend
