by Keri Withington

Created on: August 20, 2009

You may not have heard of Freecycle, but it has over 7,000,000 members world-wide. People all over the world are actively participating in Freecycle. This group is helping people and the environment, and it's all run for volunteers on a non-profit basis.

Sound interesting so far? Here's what Freecycle is. Freecycle is an internet based group, so there aren't physical offices or shops to go to. Signing up is free and has no strings or obligations attached. Although it's all over the world, you register and participate with your local group, so all of the members live relatively near each other. To find your local group, click here.

The basic concept is that every day, people are throwing away items and they are filling up landfills and generally being bad for the planet. Many of these items are actually still usable, but are being tossed because they are no longer of use to that particular individual. At the same time, there are people who need things: either basics that they can't afford, or little extras (like kids toys) that their budgets just can't stretch to include. Enter Freecycle.

If you have an item that you no longer want (it can be just about anything from plants to clothes to bricks to books to appliances) you post it on Freecycle. Then other members of Freecycle who are interested in the item respond to you requesting it. As the offerer, you have the right to choose who you want to give the item to. Some people like to give things away to the first person to respond, others wait a few days and then pick the person who they feel has the most need.

The two people then arrange a collection time (generally the person who receives the item must come and collect it at a time convenient to the offerer). It's a simple idea, and it works. I have been a member of my local Freecycle group for about a year, and have been amazed by my experience. First of all, I have met so many lovely people. There are a few flaky people who have no-showed on collections, but on the whole people have been polite, generous, and reliable. Also, the people are pretty honest about the condition of the items and what they have. I have also been impressed by the items on offer. To give you an idea, since I have been a member of Freecycle, I have given away many items that I no longer need, including tons of baby and kids items (including a see-saw and other toys, clothes, and shoes), CDs, small kitchen appliances, and garden plants. I have received a variety of items including my dishwasher (my eternal gratitude to the generous family who gave it to us), children's clothes, and a climb-and-slide for my kids. This is not just junk. There are a lot of high quality items, and a lot of hand-me-downs that still have a lot of life left in them. The reason it works is because people give as well as take.

Just a quick word: for people looking to make quick money, Freecycle is not for you. Most people will not give to you if you are planning to resale the item, and if you are found to be secretly doing so, you will be kicked out. This is about helping people and finding new homes for items, not turning a profit.

Especially in the current bad economy, it makes me happy to see Freecycle working. People are helping each other and the planet, and the system is working. People like me are having good experiences with it every day.

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