I'd be happy to set up a similar area on this forum. It does not matter where you are really. users can post what they have, if you're in the same postal area postage is cheap and in the US your postal service maybe a little slow, but from my experience it gets where its go to go and costs next to nothing compared with the fast, unreliable service we have in UK and Europe (speaking from my experience).

So you cannot benefit from Crownhills caste offs, but i'm sure that some of the US PBP resellers could do what we have done and offer excess old inventory for free, rather than bin it or see it gather dust.

Old part number devices are still very useful. for those starting out, it matters not what you use, 16F84 or 877 or 452, for flashing an LED and hello world to basic projects, for learning anything will do.

Make a decision on buying new devices, once you really understand what you want.

Anyway its just an idea. If its something that forum users here think might work, its easy enough for me to set up.

And it does not have to be limited to components, PCs laptops photo copiers fax machines etc are all useful to someone. This Xmas break i filled an 8CuMtr skip with electronic waste. most of it functional and working. Such a shame and an environmental crime. But what can one do, we need to move on and there is often no where to give such items away - especially with EU legislation being as tight as it is - So it gets scrapped.