http://www.care2.com/greenliving/love-the-earth-freecyle-your-stuff.html
Love the Earth, Freecyle Your Stuff
Seems to me that if manufacturers just stopped making stuff, we’d have plenty of old supplies to keep us clothed, housed, and entertained for quite a while. Instead, those with the money to do so toss things in the dump and replace them with essentially the same things, albeit “new and improved.”
At this rate, it won’t be long before the land starts birthing new geologic formations stretching out beyond the landfills; mountains of electronics, clothing, housewares. In my humble opinion, we’d all be wise to start some serious freecycling–giving away, and getting, already-used stuff for free.
Increasingly people are beginning to list free things in the classified sections. Craig’s List also has a “free” section, listed under the “For Sale” column that you can search by location. But the most comprehensive place to get and give free items is through the The Freecycle Network.
The Freecycle Network is a non-profit, grassroots organization made up of 4,552 groups with 5,506,000 members across the globe. Their mission is to “build a worldwide gifting movement that reduces waste, saves precious resources, eases the burden on our landfills while enabling our members to benefit from the strength of a larger community.”
The system is pretty simple. You join a local Freecycle Yahoo group which is moderated by a volunteer. People post what they want to give away, you grab it. By not supporting the production of new stuff we reduce the use of resources, and save landfill space. A win-win, for sure, and a free one at that.
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11 comments
add your comment »Like many of the other comments I too have been a Freecycle member for a couple years now and have found some great furniture items as well as giving things away otherwise headed for the dump.
Last week I Freecycled yogurt that I opened before I realized it was the wrong kind. I've found new uses for odd things. I've been given a three-year collection of my favorite magazine Real Simple which was like it being my birthday. And I have assembled an entire room or two of very nice furniture for my brother and sister who came to live with me. I always meet lots of great people to boot- a couple which even became friends! I cannot say enough good things about Freecycle. One warning: it's addicting!
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This is such a great idea. I don't live near a freecycle group, but I do make sure to donate any items that I don't want anymore, as long as they're in good shape. Why throw away a perfectly good shirt when someone else needs clothes?
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Avid Freecycler ... both ends (give and take). I scour for things to save them from going to the dump. I've gotten things that I use alot and given away things that people can use too. (Actually one time I found a bike that was stolen, a 1960's tandem bike, and the owner was found via a freecycler).
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You can get some awesome things on freecycle, I've been a member for a few years now. I just got a trunkful of decorative well made baskets a few weeks ago, they're great!
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I am part of Springfield's freecycle group and I love it. A lot of the time our used items go to people who really need them, ex i gave away a baby bouncer that went to not just one but 2! foster moms! talk about the love that thing will get! Honestly there is no reason to not join this group!
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I'm on the Green Team at work and got enough new fabric from a freecycler to make 146 cloth napkins for the cafe at work. She probably gave it away because it was not colorfast. I did a little research and soaking it in hot water with vinegar and salt took care of that. I also turned a co-worker on to freecycle. We've given and received things on freecycle. We joke that I rent my clothes I don't make from thrift stores, using them for a while then donating them back. We also use Craig's list. We take food waste to the local department of public works for composting (we have a tiny yard) and I almost always find at least one book I want on their free bookshelf.
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We call it "garbage sale-ing" when we find great items put out with the trash:)
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There are a lot of free recycling groups on the internet such as the ReUseIt Network (http://www.reuseitnetwork.org/) that are doing a terrific job of keeping items out of landfills.
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ive been a member of Freecyle for a month now and totally love it. The people i have given or had things off have been such lovely people. Its so good knowing things have gone to a good home rather than landfill. I'd recommend it to anyone.
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I love, love, love our local freecycle. I get rid of stuff in my way to someone who can use it and have recieved good stuff. It's saved me $100's and I have finished projects I never would have without it.
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