Anecdotal to a certain degree: In our part of Cologne, Germany, you place things you want to share/get rid of outside your doorstep (even in duplexes and larger

Anecdotal to a certain degree: In our part of Cologne, Germany, you place things you want to share/get rid of outside your doorstep (even in duplexes and larger houses with lots of flats). People come by and take (mostly what needed), nearly zero vandalism. I found a lot of good things others did not need this way: A Coffeemachine, furniture for our living room, two printers and lots of mugs. I guess it works where it works ... and official people have the mentality to tolerate some unrestricted sharing. Also, the city has a web-app to send them a notice of "trash piles" - with tracking if and when the pile has been taken care of. Last, the city run recycling facilities are "free", you just have to drive your stuff to the place or you have a yearly number of times to get it taken from the streets (large objects like couches) for free, too.