Most public authorities will auction goods, usually through an auction house that has offered the best terms for doing so.
The post office (in all of it's guises) regularly auctions what they term as 'undeliverable' items.
The police force auctions unclaimed items that have been lost, found, confiscated, redundant evidence etc.
Court baillifs auction seized goods.
Airports will auction lost, unclaimed goods etc.
The list goes on . . . . and on . . . . . and on . . . .