Freecycle Lives: The Alternative to Talking Trash

There's an old saying, "There's no such thing as a free lunch." Well, it's not be lunch, per se, but an organization called Freecycle is out to prove that not only are some things truly free, but that the no-cost alternative can even save us more than cash for used merchandise.

The principles behind Freecycle are fairly simple. You join the online group (for free, naturally) closest to your home. Ideally you then proceed to clean out your garage or basement and offer your cast-offs to the world at large, at which point the world responds with glee and is more than happy to claim what you no longer want or need. While it's not a barter system, everyone is encouraged to both give and take.

In general, it's the responsibility of the take-ee to come and pick up whatever they want. After all, you're giving it away!

With this process, organizers hope to cut down or eliminate the American institution of trash production. In the 1990's, landfills became a serious concern as we began to run out of space to dump all of those paper plates, disposable napkins and more. Landfills remain an expensive undertaking, at best. They take up land that could be used for other purposes. They cost Mr. and Ms. Taxpayer to install and keep up all measures necessary to meet EPA requirements. They require personnel to operate, monitor and so on. That's money out of your pocket and mine, and as our population swells, undoubtedly they'll continue to consume various types of resources.

Freecycle proposes to slow that trajectory, though, by taking recycling one step beyond paper and aluminum cans. You may find a weed eater, a mattress, old clothes - the possibilities are as endless as the members' collections. I've seen lawn mowers, furniture, televisions and even computers offered, generally to the first respondent. It's up to the offering party to decide who gets to collect what's being given away. Some people just give to the first person who contacts them. Others choose the recipient based on contact information or whatever criteria strikes them.

The organization has a centralized website at http://www.freecycle.org, operating locally through Yahoo Groups.

Inevitably there are those who beg, plead and whine for the world on a silver platter, using the Freecycle spirit of giving in order to enrich themselves (if they can.) Human greed has been around since the time of Cain and Abel and probably won't go away any time soon. I've seen people ask for things that are wholly inappropriate, such as begging outright for a new item or items. It's fine to ask if anyone has a cast-off television, but c'mon... do you honestly think that someone is going to hand you a brand new big-screen TV? Or that they'll drop it off at your doorstep, free of charge? (I've seen precisely that scenario played out, too.)

It's against the rules, but enforcement appears to be spotty, depending on the location. The moderator(s) of each group is responsible for policing their group's posts. Of course, once something's been posted, it's sent automatically to member emails, so deletion after the fact is kind of superfluous, anyway. And it's not verboten to ask for something you need or want. You are simply asked to use a little discretion. If all you ever do is ask and never offer, chances are sooner or later you'll find yourself banned altogether.

Other abuses crop up from time to time. There's the odd merchant who re-sells what they obtain on Freecycle. It does accomplish the goal of keeping things out of the landfill, perhaps, but it certainly violates the spirit of what Freecycle intends and any such merchant who's exposed will undoubtedly find that they're snubbed (or banned.)

At the other end of the spectrum is the person who offers items, but you can't ever connect to pick them up. Since it's a freebie, you don't have the right to make demands, but after a while you start wondering why they bothered.

Still and all, Freecycle is a great idea whose time has come. It instills a sense of community, a sense that good neighbors really do exist; and best of all, it really is free!