Freecycling's like Nature,
things go round and round.
It's better by far
than a hole in the ground.

The Freecycle aim is to reduce the huge number of perfectly usable items which are thrown away every year and which have to be disposed of in landfill. Out there is someone who would love to give your unwanted item a new home - and they are just a click away. Once you have registered on-line you will be able to offer items as often as you like,

Freecycle is not charity. It is about being socially and ecologically responsible. We simply cannot continue to throw things away in such a wasteful manner. I really must stress that this isn't “gifting” or “donating”. It's about not being wasteful. People who offer items on Freecycle are grateful when they find somebody who will take an item off their hands and make use of it so that it need go into the bin/tip and ultimately into landfill.

For example, you need to get rid of a wardrobe, and it goes to someone who is really grateful because they are just setting up home and cannot afford a new one, whilst you are glad you did not have to burn it or lug it to the “tip”; It had little monetary worth, but was still useable. That's simply it.

On Freecycle you might meet someone who's daughter is younger than yours, so she gets her outgrown clothes; it's not so much charity as being far better than throwing them away, while they are still useful.

Freecycle is all about keeping things out of landfill and saving the planet in your little way. It should be a necessary part of everyone's routine when disposing of unwanted items, after Family and Friends = Freecycle.

You can register by going to this South Glos website

Or for other groups outside S.Glos, such as Bristol or Bath, go to the main site.

PS You can acquire useful things on Freecycle, too!

Veronica-Mae

Once my children had outgrown the climbing frame in the garden, I realised the time had come to reclaim those square metres for the lawn!

But the thought of spending several hours dismantling it, and taking it to the tip put me off for a long time – I couldn't see how I could sell it since it was “well used”, and showing plenty of signs of rust and seizure of the nuts and bolts holding it together. Then I heard about freecycle, and after getting signed up, I put out a photo and email one Friday lunchtime. Within a couple of hours I had two enquiries, and the next day a chap came round. helped me dismantle it, and took it away in his car. He also took an old slide as well!

How that was a result for my time, and the environment!

Jon B