One Person’s Trash Can Be Your Next Treasure at Pittsburgh International Airport

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY AIRPORT AUTHORITY

Looking for an e-bike? How about a new luggage set or car seat? 

You may find it up for grabs in an unlikely place: Pittsburgh International Airport.

The airport’s annual Lost & Found and Equipment Auction is back and online only this year; bidding has officially begun on the auction website and will close at 5 p.m. on Sept. 8.

In 2025, PIT launched a new digital self-service Lost & Found platform, giving travelers the ability to submit claims, track their belongings in real time and receive automated updates 24 hours a day, seven days a week — all as part of PIT’s “We Got You” initiative to make travel easier and less stressful. 

Even so, thousands of items go unclaimed each year; if a lost item is not claimed within 30 days, it becomes the property of the Allegheny County Airport Authority and is either auctioned or donated to local charities.

The unclaimed items up for grabs this year include a Windone folding e-bike, a Casio G-SHOCK luxury watch, a handcrafted Sabika necklace with white stones and more than 20 vehicles, including a 2022 Honda HR-V, a 2011 Toyota Sienna, two 2007 Toyota Camrys and a 2005 Acura TL. Surplus airport maintenance equipment is also available. 

Officials say ACAA vehicles and equipment sales help offset replacement costs, allowing the Authority to continually upgrade its fleet and equipment while using the proceeds to reduce overall costs.

Proceeds from the lost and found items support the ACAA Charitable Foundation, helping fund workforce development initiatives, educational opportunities and community programs that inspire the next generation of aviation professionals.

If you’re interested in placing a bid but want to check out what’s on the auction floor for yourself, there is a public preview opportunity coming up from 2 to 6 p.m. on Sept. 7. Most items are located at the Joe R. Pyle Auction Warehouse at 1490 Chestnut St., while maintenance vehicles and other large items are on view at the Pittsburgh International Airport Heavy Equipment Building on Cargo Road.

This online auction utilizes a “soft close” format, officials say, which means that bidding will continue as long as bids are being placed. This offers a more natural online auction experience and encourages bidders to watch and participate as the lots close in rapid succession.

A 15 percent buyer’s premium will apply to all purchases. The airport and Joe R. Pyle Complete Auction and Realty Service accept cash, credit cards or checks payable to Joe R. Pyle Complete Auction and Realty Service. Payment, inclusive of any taxes and fees for items purchased, must be made in full before items are picked up.

For a full list of auction rules, click here.