I can’t believe it has taken me this long to find out about FreeCycle.

The Freecycle Network™ is made up of many individual groups across the globe. It's a grassroots movement of people who are giving (and getting) stuff free in their own towns. 

You join a local group (or start one up if there isn’t one already), then if you have something you don’t need any more you offer it up for anyone in the group.  If someone offers something you want, you can ask for it.  The rule is that it all has to be free.

The main website is at www.freecycle.org, and has links to local groups. I didn’t expect a big group local to me, but followed the links and found that there are several groups in my area, so I really could choose one that was very local, and it turns out that it has a couple of thousand members.  There are constantly lots of offers and giveaways – clothes, white goods, furniture, plants, books, etc.

This is a great way to reduce the waste of things being thrown away that are still usable – filling up landfill and meaning that new products are needed.  Join your local group and just have a look.  You just have to make your first post an offer.

Its surprising how it gets you thinking of things you could give away.  I hold onto some things because I don’t want them going in the rubbish, but I don’t know anyone who wants them.  This way I can offer them up and someone who needs them can have them.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.  We’ve all heard it.  The Freecycle Network is a great way to facilitate that happening.