Imagine getting everything from furniture to baby clothes for free? How about the opportunity to avoid dump fees on items you no longer want (and keeping them out of the landfill in the first place) while blessing others. That is the beauty of Freecycle.
What is Freecycle All About?
Freecycle is an organization that is broken into smaller, local groups. Each group is made up of freecycle members that live in a certain area. It is absolutely free to join, and each group usually uses Yahoo Groups to manage things. Volunteer monitors make sure that everything stays fair and safe, and new members are monitored closely until they get the hang of things.
If another member has something that you need or want, it is up to the two of you to make arrangements to have it change hands. Most members simply leave items out on their porch, at an arranged time, with the receiver’s name on it.
Offer, Wanted, Taken
All of the transactions start out as posts to the local Freecycle forum. There is certain information that must be included, such as the general location of the item (the town or zip code). To make an offer, preface your post with the word “Offer,” and be honest about the condition. Even broken items can find new homes on freecycle!
Once the item has been taken, you will need to post again with the preface of “Taken.” Some groups allow the use of “Pending,” which means that although the item has not left your possession, arrangements have already been made.
You can also post for something you want, using the “Wanted” preface. Most groups have rules as to how many items per month you can request.
Staying Safe and Avoiding Hassle
While most people on Freecycle are there to bless each other and to keep items out of the landfills, there are some who join with the idea of taking advantage of others. The moderators often have a lot of useful tips that can help. For example, you might want to ask for a phone number, respond only to those who illustrate that they have read your post, meet in a neutral location, leave items outside, or have another adult home with you when someone comes for a pick up. Make sure to report any issues to the moderators, who can take further action.
To find a group near you, search for “free cycle” and the name of your county, city, or region.
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