I still really prefer to give things to charity because I like the thought of my things going straight to people in need or money being raised from my unwanted things to help a charity's vital work. Plus, it's easier to put small things in a bag and take them to the nearest charity shop, rather than make arrangements for pick up. But, for those awkward things that the charities 'can't pass on to their clients' or 'can't sell' in their shops (for us this has recently included some really nice shelving) Freecycle is fab! Advertise your things and people want them! Your junk finds a new home! Everyone's happy!
I'll give that a hearty second. I have been involved on both sides of freecycling and feel anything we can do to decrease our landfills is a boon (plus, who can beat "free")!
ReplyDeleteHmmm...we live in a small town, so we just give stuff to the charity place and they give it to people who need it.
ReplyDeleteFreecycle sucks, they are a money hungry Corporation who has done terrible evil things to free community groups all over the world, all to increase their profit margin. It makes me sick.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.grist.org/news/maindish/2005/05/19/weiser-freecycle/index.html
Try Sharing Is Giving(http://www.sharingisgiving.org), Free Sharing (http://freesharing.org), Free Share (www.FreeShare.SaveThisPlanet.com), curbcycle or any of a number of truely FREE sharing groups that are here to support their communities rather then an evil corporation who could care less about the local community! Thanks
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SharingIsGiving-Tucson_AZ
ReplyDeleteSioux - well as I said in my post that's what I prefer to do, but sometimes charities won't take stuff (we had shelving for example (in good condition), that the charities either 'could not sell' if they have shops or 'couldn't pass on' if they were directly giving to people in need. We found a taker immediately through Freecycle.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous - thanks for posting, I didn't know there was a corporate centre to Freecycle. I think it doesn't alter the fact that the concept is great. I'll look out for the other groups you mention.
Although I've donated unusables to a lot of causes over the years (consignment is too much trouble), this winter I took advantage of the Cancer Society store. It raises $200,000 a year for research and education and is staffed by volunteers who keep the merchandise beautifully rotated and displayed. All the items are donated--nothing is on consignment. I'd lost weight and also couldn't find any slacks in the stores that weren't 4 in. too long and 2 in. below my waist. Wow. What a gold mine. I found beautiful wool, lined slacks, all that sat at the natural waist and must have been donated by women with good taste and short legs. Over the last 2 months, I've bought 9 pair, some old enough (but in beautiful condition) to actually have a "Made in the USA" label. My total investment has been under $100. And all for a good cause.
ReplyDeleteNorma - I buy everything possible second hand and would recommend it to anyone! Glad you've found it such a goldmine too!
ReplyDeleteI heard of this before but have never worked with them... I really like knowing about ways to recycle --- both directions :)
ReplyDeleteFreecycle is great! My husband loves it and uses it frequently. (I wish he'd use it to get rid of more things rather than accumulate more, but anyway...)
ReplyDeleteDidn't know about Anonymous's comments, but live and learn...
Endment - hi, yes i think the great thing is to recycle both ways, and the more options the better.
ReplyDeleteTelfair, my partner accumulates too, in fact when it comes to books we both do! You're right about anonymous' comments too - live and learn.
Thanks for reminding me about this. I want to try it as I work to shedding my excess possessions.
ReplyDeleteAs you say, not everything is appropriate for charity.
Anonymous said:Try Sharing Is Giving(http://www.sharingisgiving.org), Free Sharing (http://freesharing.org), Free Share (www.FreeShare.SaveThisPlanet.com), curbcycle or any of a number of truely FREE sharing groups that are here to support their communities rather then an evil corporation who could care less about the local community! Thanks
ReplyDeleteI can't agree more! We are all doing this out of a grassroots idea that was turned into a money maker for one man. So many of us have gone our own ways to keep the grassroots idea alive and FREE. Freecycle was turned into The Freecycle Network Inc. You will never see an Inc. behind any of the above mentioned groups. We do it for the people not the PERSON.
So check out the alternatives and give them a shot you just may like the laid back community atmosphere you find in them. Instead of the regimented rules of TFN.
I have also heard rumors that Sharing Is Giving and FreeShare are working together to make more community oriented sites around the world.
If you'd like a more user friendly experience than using freecycle's mailing list approach, try out http://freebootr.com Freebootr It's a google map mashup, free listing website. It has a large easy to read map, you can upload photos, awesome search, and it's completely free. Check it out, I think you'll like it better than Freecycle.
ReplyDelete