Swapping Web Sites Turn Trash Into Treasure

Aug. 25, 2009— -- One man's trash is another man's treasure and with the click of the mouse, you can both get rid of unwanted items and find your own goodies, practically free of charge.

There are all kinds of Web sites that let you trade items you no longer want or need, for something you really do need. The upside of all this trading, besides keeping you from having to buy these items full price at retail, is it keeps tons of trash out of our landfills.

Here are a few sites to get you started trading:

If you have a green thumb, a garden and a low-end budget, the GardenWeb plant exchange is a great place to spend a rainy afternoon.

Peruse the listings for the exact plant you're looking for, or browse for something that might fill a shady spot. Once you find what you want, see what the person is looking to trade for and if you have it to offer, send an e-mail.

If not, sometimes people are willing to send the plants for postage.

If you've cleared out a patch of Siberian Iris or hostas from your garden but just can't bear to throw them in the compost bin, put it up for trade. You can ask for something specific in return, or let people make offers of what they have available. A quick trip to the post office with a flat-rate box makes this an easy way to spruce up your garden.

Other sites:1. Introduction to Plant Swaps2. Trade a Plant

Forget about bulk trash day, someone on Freecycle will want what you're getting rid of.

The non-profit Freecycle Network was founded in 2003 to promote waste reduction in Tucson, Arizona, and help save desert landscape from being taken over by landfills. Today it's made up of 4,775 groups with 7,059,000 members across the globe.