Archive for March, 2011

The Republic: Overwhelmed by consumption rat race, some say: Enough

Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011

And there are now more than 4,900 Freecycle groups across the country; these online forums allow people to give away used clothes, housewares and electronics to avoid sending them to the landfill.

One of those Freecycle members is Tonya Willett, a mother of three boys who uses Freecycle to regularly purge and organize her 850-square foot Raleigh home. When she first found it three years ago, she said, “I thought, ‘What a neat idea. Who doesn’t have stuff that they end up throwing away because they don’t have someone to give it to?’ ”

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Patch.com: Norcross Freecycle: An Online Trading Post for Unwanted Stuff

Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011

If one man’s trash is another man’s treasure than the more than 1,400 members of the Norcross/Berkeley Lake freecycle group are pretty rich.

Freecycle, a worldwide group dedicated to giving away unwanted items to other members rather than adding to the landfills, started in 2003 by Devon Beal in Tucson, Arizona. There are roughly 8,193,125 members broken into about 4,926 different geographic groups–with the Norcross freecycle group numbering among them.

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Patch.com: Frugal Family: Ideas for Saving Your Money

Tuesday, March 22nd, 2011

Find New Owners for Unneeded Items

Are there things in your home that you no longer use, but are too good to throw away? Chances are that your trash is another’s treasure. Ask neighbors, friends and extended family first; perhaps your white elephant will be welcomed by someone you know. If you don’t find a taker, turn to “freecyling.” Residents of Acton, Boxborough, Maynard and Stow who subscribe to Acton’s Freecycle network receive postings via email that alert them to the availability of free items in those towns. It’s easy to join, list things, and have them claimed by nearby seekers.

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Patch.com: Alameda Frugal Family Planner

Tuesday, March 22nd, 2011

4. Good stuff, free! Patch reader Carol Parker wrote in to remind us that Alameda has a thriving Freecycle community. Use it to find a good home for things you no longer need — and look for something you can’t live without. This week’s deals have included an Ikea shelf, a white toilet (don’t scoff — it had an oak seat!), a crib and crib mattress, and a whole bag of baby-proofing supplies. Join via the Alameda group’s Yahoo page. New deals every day.

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Bellingham Herald: Cut clutter for spring

Saturday, March 19th, 2011

• Everything else: Whatever you need to get rid of, Freecycle (www.freecycle.org) will take it off your hands and donate it to people who want or need it.

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Boston Globe: Living better on less? It’s easier than you think — with a bit of planning

Friday, March 18th, 2011

Instead of swinging by the mall for household appliances, she’ll log onto Freecycle.org, an online forum where people give away unwanted items. She’s landed a Cuisinart food processor and a Le Creuset pan, prized kitchen tools that normally come with hefty price tags.

“Many times, second hand is better quality,’’ she say

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Subversify: Sustainable Beginnings

Thursday, March 17th, 2011

Participate in trade. Nearly every community in the country has access to Freecycle.org, an online group where you can go to post things you need and want to give away. If your community doesn’t have a group it is easy to set up and get it going. By doing this, things that you aren’t using get a second life and you can find things you need from plant starts to furniture, for free. Most people want to share they just don’t know how.

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MLive.com: Grand Blanc Freecycle group seeking members

Wednesday, March 16th, 2011

Freecycling: The Best Deal of All
Clear it out, give it away or get something you need!

You know all those items you have that work but you will never use again? Maybe you’ve thrown them out into bulk garbage. Or maybe you’re like me and have stashed them in the garage, attic, or basement thinking I will eventually use them or someone in the family will. Either way, it’s likely those items are headed for the dump, sooner or later.

A few years ago, I read information about freecycling. Freecycling, or free recycling, is freely giving all those still-usable but unwanted items to someone else who can use them, all while keeping them out of the dump.

Freecycling groups are online message boards that you join, then you get messages, either individually or as a daily digest, sent to your email (without revealing your email to others.)

Our local message board is called, “Grand Blanc MI Freecycle” and is moderated by Stephanie Pytlowanyj and another local moderator, both volunteers. The Grand Blanc group just recently started and has approximately 50 users in our area, who post, offer and claim items almost daily. Baby equipment, clothes, electronics, you name it, and it’s on there.

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StreetCorner: Collaborative consumption, it’s time to share

Tuesday, March 15th, 2011

Free Cycle[http://www.freecycle.org is a movement of people who are giving (and getting) stuff for free in their own towns. It’s all about reuse and keeping good stuff out of landfills.

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Mlive.com: Grand Blanc Freecycle group seeking members

Saturday, March 12th, 2011

Freecycling: The Best Deal of All
Clear it out, give it away or get something you need!

You know all those items you have that work but you will never use again? Maybe you’ve thrown them out into bulk garbage. Or maybe you’re like me and have stashed them in the garage, attic, or basement thinking I will eventually use them or someone in the family will. Either way, it’s likely those items are headed for the dump, sooner or later.

Read more