Recycle your unwanted goods, get goods for free -no gimmick!

[Guest]

www.freecycle.org is a international network of communities where members can offer their unwanted goods free to other members for collection. Businesses, individuals and not for profit groups are welcome to join! Visit the link given to see if there's a group near you!

[Dave H]

I am a member of freecycle in Oxford so far I've got some speakers for my computer and given away an old TV that was just gathering dust to a couple of students. I'm not sure where else does it but I think they are quite easy to set up if there isn't one in your area. All sorts of stuff gets given away, stereos, TV's, scanners and you can ask for stuff if people have it spare you just pick it up.

[spud]

www.freecycle.org is a international network of communities where members can offer their unwanted goods free to other members for collection. Businesses, individuals and not for profit groups are welcome to join! Visit the link given to see if there's a group near you!

nothing in Canterbury (yet) but I'm interested if one starts up.

[Andy Hamilton]

I thought that it would be good to do the same on here.

I think what freecycle seems to rely upon is that things are available for collection. I think this will depend on what you want to get rid of. Small things could be posted.

What do you reckon, could we do the same on here, or should we leave it up to freecycle??

[Oscar]

I think this is an excellent idea and so in keeping with the self sufficient way of life. I hate waste, unfortunately we live in a throw away society. I have to take my own household rubbish to the local skip site as the dustcart can't get down my track ! and the stuff I see in those skips - I would love to help myself, but now, can't even do that due to new local government regulations, how silly is that, supposed to recycle stuff but can't take it away ?
What about offering services ? (nothing illegal or immoral of course) perhaps gardening/fencing work, decorating, help with computers/websites etc., sort of bartering system.
I used to belong to LETS scheme, works fine in theory but no one ever wanted to do anything in my experience ! you have to get people of the right mind set.
Anyway, just a thought .........

[spyhunter]

I am an artist and have tried to pay for some things with my paintings. If someone likes what I do then I offer them one. I know that my work is not to everryones taste. So I supose I work in a LETS scheme already.

Ther trouble is that sometimes people expect some of my work rather than cash. I should be flattered but the material costs alone sometimes can add up to hell of alot of cash.

[Emma]

I lurve the idea of a lets scheme, I used to cut hair so I would always be happy to swap my skills for a plumber or whatever. How many haircuts for a blocked toilet

[hedgewitch]

My OH does the same, mends peoples computers for favours in return, such as haircuts and getting the car fixed. It's a great idea I think and is something I'd like to push more over here in Spain, I know there's big schemes like this in the UK that work very well indeed.

[wulf]

I had a really positive first experience with freecycle a couple of weeks ago - I offered a bunch of empty DVD cases and had a taker within twenty minutes (more on my blog). Where there's a local group, I'd be inclined to suggest using that in the first instance for passing on junk that might be someone else's treasure - it's the kind of enterprise that flourishes most when you've got a critical mass of participants.

In fact, looking at the links for the London group (over 24,000 members, so a few more than this forum!) there are also already some initiatives set up around the idea of things to be posted round the UK and skills exchanging (that one seems London based though). Let's not reinvent the wheel!

Wulf

[The Chili Monster]

someone has set up a branch in the "town" (population ca. 20,000) where I live. I've managed to get a fax machine, a wireless broadband router (boxed with instructions) plus a mouse for my laptop. On the negative side, I missed out on free manure (but apparantley there will be more). I'm hanging out for a greenhouse. There's only about 12 of us but I know loads of people locally that would be interested.
i know this is a bit cheeky, but the moderator of one of the local freecycle groups runs an ecofriendly baby supplies outfit. check out the website: www.babygaia.co.uk

[Shirley]

freecycle is fab - there is one in my area that has a good few members but all scattered around Aberdeenshire so you could be travelling a long way to pick something up.

I've acquired a dictaphone and a video of Local Hero (FAB film) so far. I've got lots of stuff to freecycle too and just need to get on to it.

[Wormella]

I freecycled my first item today - gave someone a 56k modem

[albert onglebod]

yay! They've just started one near us :)

[beadysam]

Freecycle rocks!

After about 3 months of being a member of several local groups and getting rid of loads of stuff as well as getting a trailer tent, knitting machine, spinning wheel, loom etc, i decided to set up my own group.
I run the Wrexham group and I love it! We have had a big spread in the local paper too. We had 80 members in October and now have 400+! Anything goes - I give away chicken poo on a regular basis, and have given away furnature, plants, software, books, mcdonalds toys, kids toys, bikes etc etc
If you do join, I would recommend you set up a seperate folder for your Freecycle emails to go into, but leave your settings at individual emails as items go really quickly. Have fun!!!!
SAM xx

www.Freecycle.org

[STHLMgreen]

There's now a new freecycle group in Stockholm!
Woohoo!

Exciting stuff. I've just emailed to join and that will make me member number 6.