Seattleites are divided over whether "free piles" are trash or treasure

Many Seattleites are fans of placing unwanted items in "free piles" for others to take — but even those who embrace this form of recycling think it can quickly devolve into a source of litter.

Why it matters: Free piles — which can include furniture, household items or boxes filled with things like clothes and books — commonly pop up on Seattle street corners. But sometimes the unwanted junk stays for days, which can become a nuisance.

Between the lines: It's a phenomenon not unique to Seattle but a product of growing interest in the circular economy and " buy nothing " groups, writes Axios Portland's Meira Gebel .

Driving the news: Most Axios Seattle readers (66%) who responded to our survey last month believe free piles are a sustainable way to get rid of used goods.

• However, a similar share (62%) agreed that they contribute to litter on sidewalks and that the dumper should move unclaimed items within a few days.
• A little over half (52%) of readers said they've put a box of used items on the sidewalk or in front of their home.

The big picture: Free piles on sidewalks, planting strips or street corners are generally illegal in Seattle, Brad Wong, a spokesperson for Seattle Public Utilities, told Axios.

• "These areas are public property, and leaving items there can obstruct pedestrian pathways and violate city regulations," Wong wrote in an email.
• Even putting a free pile on your own property can get you cited for illegal junk storage if you leave it too long, Wendy Shark of the city building inspector's office told Axios.
• The city suggests that residents donate unwanted items, use a recycling service or schedule a special pickup .

Yes, but: Some readers say they've come across items in free piles that were highly useful (such as fans and climbing shoes) or just plain cool.

• "I once found a framed, vintage 1981 poster of the Vashon Island Ferry," Madeline Stephenson of Columbia City told us. "I immediately knew I needed it and it's been a prized piece on my wall since."

The fine print: Still, most agreed there are ground rules for what's acceptable — and that leaving out items for more than two or three days is uncool.

• Other free pile faux pas include putting out mattresses and large furniture, leaving out clothes that get moldy or setting out broken items, readers said.

What they're saying: "If you can carefully time when you put out your box of items so it doesn't get rained on, then it's a nice way to pass on secondhand items without hauling them to Goodwill," writes Amelia Brandt of Pioneer Square. "But once it's been rained on, it's trash!"

The bottom line: Monitor your free pile, make sure it's marked clearly with a sign and don't assume people will want junk that really should just go to the dump.

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