ROANOKE CO., Va —
They say one person's trash is another's treasure.
That's certainly the case in Roanoke County where surplus auctions brought in $70,000 last year.
The county advertises it on Facebook and Twitter. It's a revolving list of everything from computers to printers to sometimes used cars.
Bidders can often buy items for just a few bucks.
"It's items that have outlived their usefulness for the county," says Rob Light, the county's purchasing manager, "It's soap dispensers which may not look like a whole lot, be worth a whole lot but for a dollar or two it's usually worth something to somebody."
In the past, governments would hold actual auctions a couple of times a year. But with the internet, they're able to sell 24/ 7. The auctions typically last a week or two.
In Roanoke County, the money raised from the auction goes into a fund to help replace vehicles.
