You have something you do not need, but you want
something, somebody else haves? You do not care if the stuff is used? Just
short on money?
Why not try the free goods exchange sites before going to
the discount or Goodwill store? Actually, these sites cannot be considered as
exchange, because you have no obligations to give any goods in exchange of what
you are getting.
We will present several Websites which will help you to
get what you need.
1. FreeCycle
The Freecycle Network is made up of 5,157 groups with
8,099,328 members around the world (at the moment of writing the post). It's a
grassroots and entirely nonprofit 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. Each local group is moderated by local volunteers.
Membership is free. To sign up, find your community by entering it into the
search box above or by clicking on 'Browse Groups' above the search box.
2. ReUseIt Network
The ReUseIt Network is an on-line forum that serves as a
tool to make connections between community members who want to help each other,
themselves, and their environment. In a disposable society where many items are
discarded long before they have actually outlived their use, The ReUseIt
Network helps get things from people who have them but don't want them to
people who want them but don't have them.
The primary goal is to find new uses for unwanted items
that would otherwise be thrown into the trash. The primary benefit is that it
reduces the amount of reusable items that end up in the trash with a secondary
benefit of reducing the overall amount of items thrown into landfills. Reusing
items not only cuts down on goods in landfills, but also helps reduce the strain
on our natural resources by keeping useable items in circulation, reducing the
need to manufacture additional goods.
The ReUseIt Network also provides an opportunity for
those looking for an item to ask for it. Requests for items may jog the memory
of someone who has an unused item stashed in the garage or basement waiting to
be used. It is a great way to help get rid of those things which we may have
forgotten, giving every member the chance to ReUseIt! All transactions must be
free, legal, and family-friendly.
3. TrashNothing
TrashNothing provides simplistic and user-friendly
interface to all the Yahoo Groups, devoted to the free stuff exchange. There
are actually thousands of locally run, grassroots freecycling mailing groups
around the world, so in most cases it is fairly easy to find a local group in
your neighborhood.
You can give and get almost anything on your local freecycling
group. Some of the most common posts are for items such as old electronics,
building materials, clothes and books.
Even things you might not consider reusable like cloth
scraps, scratched CDs and broken appliances sometimes find homes with artists
looking for materials or tinkerers looking for an interesting project or spare
parts. Items you offer aren't expected to be in perfect condition as long as
you accurately describe their condition when you offer them.
So next time you're cleaning out the garage, moving to a
new place or about to throw something away, don't forget that someone on your
local freecycling group might be able to use your unwanted stuff.
4. EcoFreek
EcoFreek search engine aggregates and searches more than
50 websites for free items being given away. You can find free computers,
household appliances, tools, and much more through the site.
Just post what you are looking for and your location.
5. AnyGoodtoYou
Too many things that still have plenty on life left in
them end up in landfill these days. This cost us all both environmentally and
financially via local authority financial burden for landfill use.
You may personally impact positively the environment by
reducing landfill, since every item re-homed potentially saves it from landfill.
Reduce carbon emissions by reusing not recreating. Reduce needless consumerism
(Why buy when you can reuse?) By finding new homes for things too good to throw
away AGTY hopes to its bit to ensure a sustainable future, helping other to do
the same along the way.
6. SnaffleUp
SnaffleUp is a British recycling web site, making it easy
for you to do your bit for the environment by putting items you no longer need
back on the market.
You’ll be amazed at how many useful things you can pick
up in your area for free at SnaffleUp – plus get alerts when something you’re
on the lookout for becomes available.
7. Freegle
Freegle is a British network of local groups where you
can give stuff away when you want to get rid of it – but don’t want to throw it
away because it still has some useful life left in it. Or if there’s something
you’d like, perhaps someone has just what you need that they don’t want
anymore.
Unwanted items are getting reused in their communities
via our locally based volunteer run groups. It’s free to sign up, then post a message with
an OFFER of something you want to get rid of, or a WANTED message for something
you need.
