The Canberra Times: Five ways to properly dispose of old furniture
3. Give it away. An alternative to donating old furniture is giving it away. Freecycle is an online non-profit organisation where users can post items they no longer use for collection, in addition to requesting things they need. Made up of more than 5000 local town groups with over nine million members worldwide, Freecycle can breathe new life into your furniture.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7263464/proper-ways-to-dispose-of-your-old-stuff/?cs=14247
The Guardian: Twenty firms produce 55% of world’s plastic waste, report reveals
The enormous plastic waste footprint of the top 20 global companies amounts to more than half of the 130m metric tonnes of single-use plastic thrown away in 2019, the analysis says.
Single-use plastics are made almost exclusively from fossil fuels, driving the climate crisis, and because they are some of the hardest items to recycle, they end up creating global waste mountains. Just 10%-15% of single-use plastic is recycled globally each year.
Ideal Home: Getting rid of old furniture? These companies are making it easier to pass on pre-loved pieces
You can also list items to sell on Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree and FreeCycle. You can even list things as collection only, so it’s simply a case of taking some pictures, writing a description and waiting for someone to come and take it away.
https://www.idealhome.co.uk/news/getting-rid-of-old-furniture-tips-276391
Ideal Home: Presenter Angellica Bell shares her five simple swaps for creating a more sustainable home
4. Freecycle old pieces of furniture
If you’ve had a good clear out, rather than taking your old unwanted items to the tip Angellica recommends taking them to a charity shop or freecycling.
‘Often with things we don’t want we put it on freecycle so people can come to pick it up,’ she explains. ‘You put the item online, and if someone wants it you arrange to go meet them with it.’
There are plenty of websites dedicated to freecycling, and charity shops that specialise in homeware. However, do check that the item is in good condition before dropping it off.
But don’t just stop at handing on second-hand items, consider investing in them too. For inspiration for making the most of older items take a look at our upcycled furniture ideas feature.
https://www.idealhome.co.uk/news/angellica-bell-shares-sustainable-swaps-in-the-home-276472
Nerd Wallet: 5 Ways to Get Free Clothes Online and Near You
3. Look for contests, sweepstakes and giveaways
Retailers often give out free clothing or gift cards through contests and promotions. Entering is usually as simple as submitting your email address, leaving a product review or tagging a friend in an Instagram comment. Follow your favorite brands on social media, check their websites and subscribe to their emails for announcements. However, there’s no guarantee you’ll win.
You’ll likely have better luck getting free clothes through giveaways in your community. The best way to track them down: Browse niche social networking groups, such as Freecycle and the Buy Nothing Project, or marketplaces like Craigslist. You can regularly find secondhand apparel that people want to give away.
Money Saving Expert: Ikea launches ‘buy back’ scheme for old furniture – and you can get up to 50% of the item’s original value
If you’re looking to buy Ikea furniture, picking up a secondhand item will be cheaper than buying the same item new. But you may be able to find cheaper secondhand furniture by going directly to sellers elsewhere – so it’s worth checking the likes of eBay and Facebook Marketplace first. You may even be able to pick-up free furniture on sites including Freecycle and Freegle.
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2021/05/ikea-buy-back-old-furniture-launched/
The Boston Globe: How green are you? For Earth Day, check your habits against this list of planet-friendly choices
Fix before tossing, and donate items you no longer use so someone else can. Consider buying (and selling) consignment and secondhand. Groups such as Freecycle (https://www.freecycle.org/) and the Buy Nothing project (https://buynothingproject.org/) put you in touch with people nearby gifting usable goods, building a sense of generosity and community in the process.
The Sun: Dear Deidre -I saved my grandkids from a criminal home, but now I’m skint
As for getting the things you need for the children, there are various websites offering free equipment/toys/clothes, such as Freecycle.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/dear-deidre/14723394/saved-grandkids-criminal-home-skint/
The University Times: The Gift Economy: Is Money Necessary?
The freecycle movement is one such community that believes in this principle of giving. In Ireland it takes the form of a Facebook group (Zero Waste Freecycle Ireland) with over 13,500 members, where people post things they would like to give away for free. Anyone can comment underneath an item in order to claim it. Similarly people are free to announce that they are “in search of” something. You could deck out an entire student house with necessary bits and pieces: plates, cutlery, beds, books and posters are given away every day. My own house’s student-grunge decor has benefited greatly from freecycling. At this point we are living in an emporium of the weird and wonderful as one of my housemates has become particularly attached to the thrill of finding random free oddities online.
http://www.universitytimes.ie/2021/04/the-gift-economy-is-money-necessary/