Virtual marketplaces now mean that there’s really no excuse for dumping perfectly good materials. Just be sure you don’t end up with Lego bricks instead.

Last month, a web site that aims to save tonnes of construction waste from the landfill was launched.

Whatdoidowiththis.com is a marketplace for contractors with surplus materials. Instead of binning perfectly good products, the site allows builders, merchants and DIYers to advertise their reusable material.

What a brilliant idea – construction and demolition waste accounts for 19% of waste in the UK. If the top 2,000 contractors sold only half of their reusable waste, its value would top £100m, so environmentally and financially, everyone should be a winner.

It’s early days yet, but the listings are growing – there are already 59 items in the bricks and mortar category. The site has also gained the support of the Association of Interior Specialists, which will promote the website to its members.

Salvo.co.uk is a long-running site that is worth a visit. It specialises in architectural salvage and has a wide range of materials on its website. You can search items for sale or a directory of dealers. Handily, you can browse by location or other categories. The news section is also worth checking to find out who’s having sales.

Also worth a bet is eBay, but make sure you browse via the building materials and supplies category or your search for “bricks” will unearth Lego and Sticklebricks.

There are more than 5,000 products in eBay’s building category but it’s hard to tell whether the materials are reusable waste or new items being sold from a virtual shop front. A look through the doors and windows category for example found only one set of doors that were surplus to requirements. WhatdoIdowiththis.com does not allow the sale of full price items, but will take ex-display or end of line goods.

For more on recycled waste visit WRAP’s feature-packed website. As well as advice on recycled waste, there are tools and specific programmes on tyres and plasterboard.