Grasshopper New Media Presents...

THE OLD WAY TO RECYCLE
When I was a kid, in the late 70’s, there was only one kind of recycling: cans! My sisters and I would go around our neighborhoods, pick up soda cans, and bring them to recycling centers for money. I remember we didn’t get much - maybe a penny a pound? Still, it was a great way to introduce kids to both recycling and entrepreneurialism.
Through the rest of the 70’s, and most of the 80’s, I knew only that we could recycle tin and aluminum, glass and newspapers. In the late 80’s I learned that plastic was recyclable as well. And just last year I learned that paperboard and cardboard are also recyclable.

But, did you know there’s also a way to recycle your unwanted items that can’t go to the recycling center?

THE NEW WAY TO RECYCLE
Freecycle is a world-wide nonprofit network of people giving away stuff they no longer need or want, to people who can use it. Each local group is moderated by a volunteer (or volunteers) to make sure everything stays on the up-and-up. How does it work? From their site:

“When you want to find a new home for something — whether it’s a chair, a fax machine, piano, or an old door — you simply send an e-mail offering it to members of the local Freecycle group.

Or, maybe you’re looking to acquire something yourself. Simply respond to a member’s offer, and you just might get it. After that, it’s up to the giver to decide who receives the gift and to set up a pickup time for passing on the treasure.

Our main rule: Everything posted must be free, legal, and appropriate for all ages.”

It is such a wonderful and useful way to get rid of your items that might be:

• too hard for you to get to the thrift store,
• something you know somebody could use but that the thrift store wouldn’t accept,
• something you might think nobody would have a use for but you’d rather see if somebody could use it before you send it to the dump.

WHAT YOU’LL FIND ON FREECYCLE
What kind of items can you find being given away on Freecycle? I have seen some amazing things and heard some even more amazing stories! When I started a Freecycle in my town a few years ago (you can read about that here on page 4)
the very first thing offered up was an antique honky-tonk piano!

My favorite things to give and get from Freecycle are kids clothes, books and furniture, but we’ve gotten some wonderfully unexpected things as well. Some of my favorites are:

• a brand new Kitchen-Aid mixer
• a martial arts punching/kicking bag
• plastic play food
• our gerbils and our guinea pigs!

I’ve gotten rid of books, decorative household items, and a beautiful set of barstools, among many other things. I’ve heard of people getting bee hives and pottery kilns, even (occasionally) cars!

Today I’m getting some practically brand new carpet for our basement (delivered, even) and, later in the week, we’re picking up a washing machine, as ours broke in a move in December. There have actually been quite a few washing machines posted on our list since then, but this was the first we’d been selected to receive.

“WINNING” OFFERED ITEMS
Which reminds me, sometimes you’ve got to be fast to get something that’s offered. The person offering doesn’t necessarily have to give an item to the first person who responds, but it often happens that way as they have a need to get the items out of their homes. I recommend being as kind as you can be in your request for an offered item, while also being as brief as possible. Keep the sob stories to yourself, although making a simple statement as to why you’d like the item could be useful if the person is choosing between a few people who will “win” the item.
BUILDING COMMUNITY
The communities that are built up from Freecycle is amazing as well. The first year that our group was running, members got together to give meals to needy families for Thanksgiving and Christmas - it’s happened every year since then. And while the main list is not the place to make complaints (your moderator/s will give you a way to do this formally) or have conversations, there are often local community lists created for people to connect. I don’t belong to our local community, but have made a good friend from noticing that one woman kept offering clothes in my daughter’s size and homeschooling books. A couple of quick emails and we eventually found that we had a lot in common and decided to meet.
SAFETY
Still, like most things these days, you do have to be careful to whom you give information. On our group, we don’t allow members to post their phone numbers on the email that goes out to the entire list (of thousands of people), and we have files that go out to new members reminding them about choosing safety. For example, I would not meet up with somebody at a rest-stop on the way out of town to make a trade, although I’ve heard of others doing so. I try not to give out my phone number. I usually put out items I’m Freecycling on my front porch in a bag marked with the recipient’s name, but that’s more for convenience sake than safety’s sake. And I’d rather pick up items this way as well, because it feels safest to me.

GO JOIN NOW!
If you’ve got that odd item (or two - and I bet you’ve got lots more) that you need to get rid of, or something that you’re looking for without the time to get to a thrift store (or don’t think you’d find it there), join your local Freecycle list. I can just bet that you’ll love it!

Already belong? Let us know what your favorite Freecycle find and strangest Freecycle offer was in the comments below.
[tags]ecology, green, freecycle, recycle, community[/tags]