Idaho Mountain Express: ‘Freecycling’ movement gains momentum

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Wednesday, September 30, 2009

‘Freecycling’ movement gains momentum

Economic downturn has fueled re-use of many goods

By SHAWN DELL JOYCE

Yard sales are part of a time-honored waste-reduction program that is gaining popularity as disposable income dwindles. Photo: Creators News Service

Yard sales are great for bargains, but they also are great for the fact that we are keeping usable things out of our landfills. Each of us produces 1.2 tons of garbage per year, but that figure doesn't include the usable goods—such as old furniture, clothes and books—that also wind up in the waste stream.

Tighter belts mean people are more reluctant to throw usable goods away and more likely to fix something broken or exchange it with a friend. More and more people are engaging in the time-honored tradition of "freecycling." This means giving usable goods to someone else for free instead of wasting it.

Groups of parents often exchange children's clothes in "clothing swap parties," at which you bring old clothes and arrange them by size. Ideally, you leave with new-to-you clothes and give away all the outgrown ones.

Many churches and community groups also have hosted clothing swap parties and often donate the leftover clothes to migrant workers and clothing collection boxes.

Artist groups often host swap meets at which pricey art supplies are traded, as well as equipment and even art. I even have been to a cookie swap, at which all the participants baked several dozen holiday cookies and then swapped them for more variety.

The economic downturn has been a boon for used-clothing stores and secondhand boutiques. A trip to any local Goodwill or Salvation Army store will reveal well-heeled shoppers rubbing elbows with the usual suspects.

Bigger items, such as used appliances, are not so easy to find or sell. If you can't find it in the classified section, consider online posting services, such as Freecycle and Craigslist. Freecycle is an e-mail list organized by city that has networks around the world. The only rule is that the item must be free, so there is no cost to list or receive a usable item. Freecycle is a great place to post that old chair, and everyone who is a member of the local network will receive your e-mail address and photo of that old chair.

Craigslist is a small empire boasting everything from help wanted to romance classifieds. You probably will find what you are looking for on Craigslist, but it will not be free unless you find it in the "free" category.

Some communities have stores that sell usable merchandise redirected from the waste stream. Habitat for Humanity has a series of "ReStores" around the country, at which you can donate or purchase leftover and deconstructed building materials. Some municipalities offer programs through solid-waste programs, such as the Hudson Valley Materials Exchange in New Paltz, N.Y.

This nonprofit organization has redirected more than 20 tons of usable materials from the waste stream over the 10-plus years of its existence. This program relies on public donations, so the inventory changes weekly.

By freecycling usable goods, we are increasing the life spans of merchandise, reducing waste and generating economic impact by freeing up money that could be better spent elsewhere. We also create more positive interactions between friends and neighbors.

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