Recycling Near You - Trade and Exchange in the Townsville City Council area

Online Marketplaces

Giving, Receiving, Swapping or Selling Online

Explore all the different online forums in Australia for finding, giving, swapping or selling pre-loved items.

If you would like to donate your items to charities and community programs, visit Community Reuse Initiatives.

Buying and selling

The following websites provide an online forum to buy, sell or give away new and second-hand items.

  • Gumtree is an online marketplace where users can buy, sell or give away items.
  • eBay charges a listing fee as well as a percentage of your sale price. eBay has an international reach so that items can be traded overseas.
  • Facebook Marketplace is an online marketplace where users can buy, sell or give away items. Facebook also has community groups for free items and clothes swap events.
  • Tradingpost.com.au is an Australian-only platform for buying and selling goods and services.
  • Carousell is an online marketplace where users can buy, sell or give away items.
  • Depop is an online marketplace for clothing, shoes and accessories. A small fee is taken from the profit of each item sold.
  • Foundling Reusery is an online shop that sells vintage and upcycled goods. 

Free stuff and donations

These forums allow you to give away or find stuff for free.

  • FreeCycle Australia is one of the oldest 'free stuff' forums. Membership is free and the FreeCycle movement is not-for-profit. Join the network to find free items or give stuff away.
  • GIVIT is a platform that connects the community with charities and support organisations. You can either list items you want to donate or browse the list of items that charities and non-profit organisations currently need to share with communities that are disadvantaged or have been affected by natural disasters.
  • Ziilch is an online platform that allows users to find free stuff or give away their things for free.
  • ShareWaste is an online platform that connects users with neighbours who have composts or worm farms and are willing to accept food scraps.
  • Street Libraries are beautiful homes for pre-loved books, planted in front yards or community hot spots. They are accessible from the street and are an invitation to share the joys of reading with your neighbours. You can take a book for free or leave a pre-loved book behind.

Swapping

These forums allow you to trade and swap items with other members of the community. Some are online marketplaces and others list in-person events.

Community Exchange Network is a global network of communities using alternative exchange systems that allows users to exchange goods and services locally or remotely.

Book Mooch is a forum that allows users to pass on pre-loved books and receive other books in return. The platfrom uses a points system, where the user accumulates points for books they have given away and can use the points to “buy” books from other members.

High End Hammy Downs is a website and app that allows users to swap children’s clothing.

The Clothing Exchange holds swap parties in Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra.

During Planet Ark’s National Recycling Week in November, there are usually lots of swap events – visit the events page to find one near you. 

If you would like to host your own swap party, check out Planet Ark's Swap Party Guide for everything you need to know to organise your event.