[aageneral] Freecycle Means Free Stuff and a Cleaner Environment

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Freecycle Means Free Stuff and a Cleaner Environment
by Joe Hickman, HaLife.com

Over one million members in almost 3,000 communities
worldwide are sharing their unwanted stuff.

All the getting and giving is possible through an
organization called Freecycle, a grassroots movement of
people who give away things for free in their own towns.
Each local group is run by a local volunteer moderator. All
of the trading is done online. Membership is free. Freecycle
is open to individuals and non-profit organizations.

The Freecycle Network was started in 2003 in Tucson,
Arizona, to promote waste reduction and help save desert
landscape from being taken over by landfills. In just two
years the idea has spread worldwide.

The process is quite simple. Go to www.freecycle.org and
find a group near you. (If there's not one close, consider
starting one yourself.) Then when you want to find a new
home for something, just send an e-mail offering it to
members of your Freecycle group.

Some groups have restrictions on what you can and cannot
post, but most limitations are simply that the item needs to
be completely free, legal, and appropriate for all ages.
What you offer doesn't matter: computer parts, couch,
clothing, an old window, broken car, perfume, whatever.

If you have it and don't want it, someone else probably can
put it to good use.

If something is posted that you're interested in obtaining,
simply respond to the member's offer. The giver decides who
receives the gift and sets up a pickup time for passing on
the treasure. Sometimes it's as simple as "I'll leave it on
the front porch of 123 Main St., come by anytime."

Many local networks also allow "wanted" posts. If you're
looking for a 10 gallon aquarium, check with Freecycle
first. Odds are good someone may have one sitting in their
basement collecting dust.

While each individual network may have slightly different
restrictions, most are similar. There are generally four
types of posts and these words must appear in the subject
line of your email: Wanted: xxx, Offer: xxx, Taken: xxx, or
Found: xxx.

Generally, you should elaborate a bit in your emails as to
why you are need something or why you are interested in
picking up the item. Please save your entire life story for
another forum, but responses like "I'm interested" will
likely get deleted.

On the other hand, something like: "I'm a single mom who
just moved here after my divorce. I'd love to pick up your
washing machine tonight. I would greatly appreciate not
having to squeeze in time to go to the laundromat after
work," will likely get consideration.

Be sincere. Don't make up a woeful story trying to get
something. The intent of Freecycle is to help others by
giving and getting. And at the same time, help the
environment.

What a great, fun organization.

-----

Joe Hickman, a former web writer at EPA-Dallas, is editor at
HaLife.com ( http://halife.com )

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