A stroke of Google Mashup genius has brought us GarbageScout, an interactive online map for locating and posting free stuff that's lying around your neighborhood in need of a new home. Much like Freecycle, the system lets community members recycle items they no longer want back into the hands of their neighbors, but with GarbageScout, you don't have to restrict yourself to any particular locale, or subscribe to a list.

On top of that, with GarbageScout, you can broadcast your discarded discoveries on the spot, by taking a cell phone photo of a curbside item and pix messaging it to street@garbagescout.com with a short description.

This concept mashes up some serious worldchanging-style sustainability—using cell phone technology and digital mapping to help reuse old stuff locally. It's community-supported, user-operated and requires nothing but a keen eye for good-looking garbage.

you rock J! i mean the mashup angle on the whole thing is what keeps this relevant. seeing used undies (and lord knows how many single boots) abandoned on the street is one thing. seeing it as a mash up with GEarth, where itrs participatory and all is another, and with the other GEarth mashups you've shown lateley, the climate moldelling and all, you're showing just how great a tool this can be if we bring ourselves into it!!!

thanks!

Posted by: lee on February 4, 2006 7:24 PM