Quick Answer
To find or give away free stuff in Ottawa, join a Buy Nothing group (there are about 50 across the city), use Full Circles Ottawa on TrashNothing, check the free sections on Kijiji and Facebook Marketplace, and list items on Fliku. The City of Ottawa lets each household set out up to three garbage items, including bulky furniture, but does not take major appliances or electronics at the curb, so giving items away is often the easier route. Meet at the door in daylight, and never share more than you need to.
Ottawa is a good city for getting things for nothing. Between students leaving at the end of April, people moving for work and a culture of community groups, a huge amount of perfectly good furniture, clothing, books and household items is given away every week. If you are furnishing a first apartment on no budget, it is a gold mine. If you are clearing a house, it is the fastest way to get rid of things responsibly.
This guide explains where to find free stuff in Ottawa, how to give things away without stress, what the City will and will not take, and how to stay safe.
Where to Find Free Stuff in Ottawa
| Where | What you will find | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Buy Nothing groups (about 50 across Ottawa) | Furniture, household items, baby gear, clothes, food | Neighbourhood-based groups, mostly on Facebook; you join the one for your area |
| Full Circles Ottawa (TrashNothing) | Free furniture, household goods, books, baby items, clothes | An email-based giving and getting community |
| Kijiji (free section) | Furniture, firewood, building materials, appliances | Large, fast; items go quickly |
| Facebook Marketplace (free filter) | Anything, with local pickup | Check the buyer or giver profile |
| Fliku | Local giveaways and cheap items | Free to list |
| Curbside giveaways during move-out weeks | Furniture and household items left by students and renters | Common around late April and August |
CBC has reported on Ottawa Buy Nothing groups, which bring neighbours together to give and get items without money, and Full Circles Ottawa is another active community. Most pickups are left on a porch, at the curb or arranged at a public meeting place. Check the rules of each group before you post.
How to Find Good Free Stuff Fast
Free items disappear in minutes, so speed and manners matter. Turn on notifications for your Buy Nothing group and for free listings on Kijiji and Facebook. Reply quickly, say when you can collect and be polite. Do not ask for items you cannot realistically pick up. If someone has chosen another person, thank them and move on. Check items carefully when you collect them, and do not take anything that looks unsafe, such as a heavily stained mattress, an old crib or a recalled product. Bring the right vehicle, blankets and a friend for large pieces.
Giving Things Away: Do It the Easy Way
If you have things to give away, a "free, buyer picks up" listing is the quickest solution. Take a clear photo, give the size and condition and say where and when it can be collected. Choose a time when you are home, and, if you can, put the item near the door or on the porch so that people do not need to come in. Pick the first reasonable reply, confirm a time and message again the day before. Mark the listing as taken as soon as the item is gone. If nobody responds within a day or two, try a different group or donate it.
What the City of Ottawa Takes at the Curb
Ottawa's three-item limit allows each household to set out up to three items on collection day. They can be garbage bags or containers up to 140 litres and under 15 kg, or bulky items. Accepted bulky items include sofas, couches, mattresses, box springs, chairs, desks, cabinets, tables, rolled carpets, patio furniture and dismantled toilets and sinks. Bulky items cannot be bagged, and should be set out before 7 a.m. on your collection day. The City does not collect major appliances or electronic waste at the curb. Rules change, so check the City of Ottawa's curbside garbage page. If an item is still usable, giving it away is usually better than putting it in the garbage.
What Not to Give Away
Some items should not be given away, even for free. Health Canada prohibits giving away baby walkers, drop-side cribs, inclined infant sleep products and some other children's products, and says you should not give away a car seat that has been in a collision or any product that is recalled. Helmets that have taken an impact should be thrown out. See Health Canada's guidance on second-hand products and our baby gear guide. Mattresses are also often unwelcome, because of hygiene concerns.
Donate Instead of Giving Away?
If nobody wants an item, a charity might. The Habitat for Humanity Greater Ottawa ReStore accepts furniture, appliances and building materials in good condition at its Stittsville, Trainyards and City Centre locations and can schedule pick-ups, while Value Village and other charity shops take clothing and housewares. Phone first, because every charity declines items that are broken, stained or unsafe. See junk removal in Ottawa for what to do with things nobody wants, and our donation guide for how charities decide.
Move-Out Weeks: Ottawa's Free Stuff Season
Late April and the end of August are the peak times for free stuff in Ottawa, when students and renters leave and furniture appears on the curb. If you are looking, walk or drive through student neighbourhoods and check your local groups daily. If you are leaving, list early and be specific about timing. Our student guides, selling furniture when moving out and the end-of-year checklist, explain what to sell, give away and leave behind. Do not leave furniture on the curb in places where it is not allowed, because by-law officers can issue fines.
Ottawa free stuff checklist
- Join the Buy Nothing group for your area and Full Circles Ottawa
- Turn on notifications for free listings on Kijiji and Facebook
- Reply quickly, say when you can collect and be polite
- Check items for safety and recalls before you take them
- When giving, take a clear photo and state the size, condition and pickup time
- Never give away banned or unsafe items such as drop-side cribs
- Mark the listing as taken as soon as the item is gone
Stay Safe When Giving and Getting
Free listings attract many people, and a few of them cause trouble. When you give, put the item outside, avoid sharing your exact address until the pickup is confirmed and do not let strangers into your home. When you collect, bring a friend, go in daylight and do not enter a home alone. Be wary of anyone who asks for money, personal information or a verification code in exchange for something free. Some scammers use free listings to scout houses or to run fake courier schemes.
Use the Ottawa Police Safe Trade zones when you can: parking spots at Ottawa Police stations at 466 Metcalfe Street (behind 474 Elgin), 211 Huntmar Drive in Kanata, 245 Greenbank Road in Nepean, 4561 Bank Street in Leitrim and 3343 St-Joseph Boulevard in Orléans. They are not monitored around the clock and the police do not take responsibility for the transaction, but they are a far better choice than a dark parking lot. Meet in daylight, bring a friend, and confirm any e-transfer in your own banking app before the item leaves. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre lists current scams, and our guide to avoiding scams explains the common ones.
Furnishing a First Apartment for Free
If you are setting up a first home on no budget, free stuff can cover most of what you need. Start with the essentials: a bed frame, a table and chairs, a lamp, kitchen basics and bedding. Check your Buy Nothing group and Kijiji's free section daily, and be ready to move quickly. Bring a vehicle, blankets and straps, and measure your doorways first. Avoid mattresses and upholstered items from unknown homes, and check everything for pests. Our first-year Ottawa checklist helps you decide what to find free and what to buy.
Etiquette: Be a Good Neighbour
Free stuff communities work because people are polite. If you ask for something, show up on time or say you cannot make it. If you give something away, be honest about condition. Do not resell items you received for free, because it breaks the spirit of most groups and many have rules against it. Say thank you, pay it forward when you have things to give, and respect the rules of each group. These small habits keep the community healthy and make people willing to help you next time.
Giving Away Large Items
Big pieces of furniture are the hardest to give away, because the recipient needs a truck and helpers. Be clear about size, weight and how many people are needed. Offer to help carry, or arrange for friends to be there. If the item is too heavy or awkward, a free pick-up by a charity may be an option. Move the item to the door or the garage before the pickup so that people do not need to enter your home. If you have no takers after a few days, consider a donation or the City's three-item bulky collection, as long as the item qualifies.
What to Do If Nobody Wants It
Occasionally an item will not go, even for free. Be honest about whether it is really usable. If it is not, a free listing only wastes everyone's time. If it is, try a different group, add a clearer photo or change the wording: "solid wood dresser, good condition, must go this weekend" gets more replies than "dresser". If nothing works after a few days, donate it, use the City's bulky item collection if the item qualifies, or arrange junk removal. Take a moment to check that the item is not recalled or banned before you give it to anyone.
Seasonal Tips for Free Stuff
Free items follow the calendar. Late April and August bring furniture and household goods as students and renters move. October and November bring winter gear, snowblowers and firewood racks. After the holidays, January brings decorations, kids' toys and gift duplicates. In summer, garden items, bikes and patio furniture are common. If you are looking for something specific, check in the right season, and if you are giving something away, list it when people are looking for it, such as a snowblower in October. Matching your timing to the season makes free listings disappear faster.
Giving something away in Ottawa?
List it free on Fliku and find a local home for it. No fees.
List Free Items on FlikuFrequently Asked Questions
Where can I find free stuff in Ottawa, Ontario?
You can find free stuff in Buy Nothing groups (about 50 across Ottawa), on Full Circles Ottawa (TrashNothing), in the free sections of Kijiji and Facebook Marketplace and on Fliku. Curbside giveaways are also common in late April and August, when students and renters move.
What does the City of Ottawa pick up at the curb?
Each household can set out up to three items on collection day, including garbage bags or containers up to 140 litres and bulky items such as sofas, mattresses, desks and patio furniture. The City does not collect major appliances or electronic waste at the curb. Check ottawa.ca for current rules.
How do I give away furniture in Ottawa?
Post a "free, buyer picks up" listing on a Buy Nothing group, Kijiji, Facebook Marketplace or Fliku with a clear photo, the size and condition and a pickup time. Put the item near the door, pick the first reasonable reply and mark the listing taken when it is gone.
What should I not give away?
Do not give away baby walkers, drop-side cribs, inclined infant sleep products, recalled products or car seats that have been in collisions, and throw out helmets that have taken an impact. Mattresses and heavily stained or damaged items are also often unwelcome.
Is it safe to pick up free items from strangers?
Generally, if you take precautions: go in daylight, bring a friend, do not enter a home alone and be wary of anyone who asks for money or personal information. Check items for safety and recalls before you take them.
