We’ve all heard about the 3R’s right? Reduce, Reuse, Recycle! Which is the one most overlooked? Reuse! How much of your garbage can have a potential reuse? Do you throw away things that someone else can use? I have heard about Freecyle but I’ve never joined or looked at a group site before this past week.
When we first moved into our house we took down part of the chain link fence that I’m assuming was used for a dog run. It had no purpose to us so we took it down. We couldn’t stand to leave it by the road for the garbage man to decide if they would take it or not…so it sat in the back yard for 2 years. You can image the weeds that were growing through the chains when we decided to clear out the backyard and landscape. My hubby was complaining about having to take it somewhere to trash it. SOOOOOO….I joined Freecycle! He didn’t think I would ever join or participate as I’m quite the procrastinator. But I did. I posted the fence this past weekend and within a day I had a taker for the fence. A nice man from a few neighborhoods over came and hauled it away last night. He even came back tonight to get a few pieces that he left behind.
My lesson here is that we had absolutely no use for this fence but someone else is going to use it in their garden in luei of chicken wire. I had never thought about using it in the garden. I think I’m going to go clean out the garage little by little and find homes for all my stuff. Have I ever mentioned that I’m a serious PACK RAT? I have stuff from elementary school in boxes in the garage. Don’t laugh, it’s true!
What are your experiences with Freecycle? Love it, hate it? What was the most unique item you got rid of…or received by using Freecycle?
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Yeah to you for not procrastinating any longer and joining freecycle!!
I L-O-V-E freecycle. I’ve only had amazing experiences; my soul breathes a sigh of relief every time someone shows up and saves my stuff from the landfill.
The high chair we used for our kids was a hand me down; on our 2nd kid the belt broke. Called the company and they would not sell me a replacement belt; told me to throw the high chair in the garbage. I made a belt from straps I got at an army surplus store. Early January we listed the not-in-perfect-condition high chair on freecycle. Got picked up within 24 hrs, and a week later got a lovely thank you note!
I don’t like it. The concept is good but look up info on people that have gotten hurt, raped, stolen from, etc.
I read a story where someone listed landscaping stuff- sort of an “everything must go”.. and of course, people responded.
Well, some asshole gave out a randon persons address and told people who responded to the listing to just show up– take whatever they wanted but to bring their own shovel.
In this situation, it was done with malice– and someone died.
Again, it’s a great concept but the small percentage of loonies scare me too much to do it.