As the old saying goes, one person’s trash is another person’s treasure. A Web site in the United Kingdom is connecting individuals who have something to give away with their neighbors who need the item, keeping trash out of landfills and encouraging good recycling or reuse practices.

On the Give or Take Web site, people can post information about items they want to give away, and they can see what others in the area have available. Items stay on the Web site for two weeks. If they are not given away during that time, individuals are provided a list of local charities that might be interested. Currently, the site is active in three locations in the United Kingdom.

The Web site grew out of a series of Give or Take events started in 1998 by the Forest Recycling Project (FRP), a not-for-profit community business that encourages environmental awareness and helps create a sustainable society by providing a range of recycling services for the local community. For the events, which are now held monthly, FRP collects reusable items people would otherwise throw away, takes them to a school or community center on a Saturday, opens the doors, and lets people come in and take whatever they want.

The events proved so popular, FRP developed an online presence to make Give or Take available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. When choosing a URL, .ORG was a natural fit, says Lisa Donovan, Web development officer for FRP. "Having a .ORG domain reassures those accessing our site(s) that we are not in this for the money, that we have aims and ambitions outside of getting rich, and that we provide something of value back to our community."

The Web site also provides information for individuals who want to host their own Give or Take events.

www.giveortake.org