Freecycle in your neighborhood

If you want mulch, an Epson printer, a slightly used Graco high chair, an executive desk chair, Cytomax energy drinks, an oak cabinet or tons of wire and cable, you should check out www.freecycle.org.

I have been offered these items this week, no they are not black market nor am I an admin at a homeless shelter but this is a great online opportunity. It’s a way to recycle items that either people don’t want to sell via classified ads or can’t get rid of, but they’re good and usable, though they may need an extra part, batteries or a small repair. I highly recommend you go to the website and sign up. The messages come to you and it’s alot less wasteful than the free dryers, TVs, printers and playpens I see on street corners late Sunday nights waiting for a ride to the outreaches of trashland.

If you don’t want it, can’t use it, can’t stand it; pass it on. This is not the credo of a 60’s film; it’s what freecycling is all about. I’ve read that people in 700 cities in the U.S. and even folks in my little Podunk- by- the- sea are participating. In a moment of Tucson- based genius, freecycling came about to reduce waste and preserve land prior to turning it into landfill. It also short circuits some of our conspicuous consumption and the burning need to drive over to Target late at night. (Our dump is unbelievable; yards of keyboards, monitors, a few mainframes, exercise equipment, rugs sliced and slivered and metal.) Until the artists arrive, freecycling can help!

Here’s the local SF link and description:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FreecycleEastSFBayArea/

Description
Welcome to the San Francisco Bay Area East Freecycle Network™! This network covers the East Bay region, mainly Alameda and Contra Costa counties. But you are welcome to join this Freecycle group wherever in the Bay Area you are from!

The Freecycle Network is made up of many individual groups across the globe. It’s a grassroots movement of people who are giving and getting stuff for free in their own towns. Each local group is run by a local volunteer moderator. Membership is free. For more information visit www.freecycle.org.

One rule: everything posted must be free. Whether it’s a chair, a fax machine, piano, or an old door to be given away, it can be posted on the network. Or, maybe you’re looking to acquire something yourself? Respond to the posting directly and you just might get it. After that it is up to the giver to set up a pickup time for passing on the treasure.

By joining this group, you agree to the terms and conditions of The Freecycle Network. Please read the rules under the Files section before posting to the group. Please contact the list owner if you have any questions.