Using Freecycle to Save Money and the Environment

You will find everything from tea cozies to TVs on Freecycle.org. The concept is pleasantly simple: Get rid of stuff that you don’t need, and give it to someone who does. No strings attached, and no cash exchanged.

Although it can be an excellent resource for those in need, The Freecycle Network was not designed as a charity. Freecycle’s mission is:

“…to build a worldwide gifting movement that reduces waste, saves precious resources & eases the burden on our landfills while enabling our members to benefit from the strength of a larger community.”
– Freecycle.org

The Freecycle Network is a non-profit organization that was founded by Deron Beal of Tucson, Arizona, in May of 2005. Since then, Freecycle membership has soared to over 5.7 million people worldwide, and it has prevented the waste of over 400 million pounds of materials.

Anyone can join Freecycle, but there are basic usage rules in place to prevent abuse of The Freecycle Network. While individual Freecycle groups may have specific rules, rules that all Freecycle members must follow include the following:

• Keep it free, legal, and appropriate for all ages
• Summarize your posting in the subject line
• No politics, spam, money, personal attacks/rudeness; no proselytizing/religion
• No trading
• Responses go only to offerer
• No offering yourself or your children (!)
• Be nice. Keep your word.
• Be safe. Make arrangements to meet members in a public place.

Freecycle is set up by city. From the Freecycle home page, you can search for Freecycle groups in cities near you. For example, if you live in Chicago, Illinois, you would join the Chicago Freecycle Group. You will need to provide some basic information when you register, in order to prove that you are a resident or business owner in the area, and not a re-seller.

Each Freecycle group has a volunteer moderator. Among other things, the moderator approves and/or edits listings as needed, and ensures that the rules of Freecycle are being followed.

One thing you’re guaranteed to get from Freecycle is lots of e-mail. So, set up a folder and have your Freecycle e-mails go directly to that folder, so that your inbox will not be inundated with Freecycle postings.

Once you’ve received a registration confirmation from a Freecyle moderator, you can begin using Freecycle. There are essentially four categories of e-mails that you will receive from Freecycle. Their subject lines will read: wanted, offered, received, or taken. For example, if you are in need of a microwave, you would post a listing indicating the following in your subject line: Wanted: Microwave (Chicago). The body of your e-mail can include further details.

Keep in mind that you will not always necessarily get the things that you are requesting. Also, if you are responding to someone’s offer, you should know that it is up to the owner’s discretion to determine who the recipient will be. This is not necessarily determined by “first come, first serve.” When you make a Freecycle agreement, you and the other individual will need to decide on when and where you’d like to meet.

Remember that the purpose of Freecycle is to not about getting free stuff. Its intended purpose is to keep useful items out of landfills. Freecycle is about “changing the world, one gift at a time.” - Freecycle.org

by Angela Antonelli

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