Freecycle

"Changing the world one gift at a time" is the motto of a worldwide movement known as Freecycle. With over 3.3 million members, Freecyle aims to keep reusable goods out of landfill by 'gifting' them to a local network of members. I recently joined the Sunshine Coast group (via Yahoo), which is very active.

The group allows members to send out an email with "offers" of goods that they no longer want, which can then be collected by anyone who wants the item/s for free. Our local group has a great deal of activity - items are snapped up within hours! Once an item has been promised to someone, another email goes out to the group to let them know it has gone.

Offers through my inbox this week have included: videos & DVDs, a toy box, a bread maker, a steam mop, a dining table, several washing machines, clothes, toys, books, a blender, gutters, colourbond fencing panels, security screen doors, a VCR, a stereo, a whipper snipper, garden plants and so on. Members are also allowed to send two "wanted" emails to the group each week.

I've personally thrown away less stuff since joining the group, because I always think to myself that someone on Freecycle might want the item. This alone is a good thing. The other interesting thing I've noticed is how often people offer an item that has "stopped working", and how quickly even those things are snapped up by other group members. It's refreshing to think of broken stereos and washing machines as being in demand, rather than being destined for landfill.