Ways to Freecycle Responsibly
Written by: Susie Potter
Everybody, myself included, seems to love FreeCycle. I mean, after all, who doesn’t love getting something for nothing and saving the earth in the process? If you’ve been living under a rock and aren’t quite sure what FreeCycle is, you should get yourself over to http://www.freecycle.org and check it out. It’s basically a series of community groups where people can post offers for free items they no longer need and that they wish to give away free of charge. Those on the lookout for an item that they don’t mind getting used can post want ads. If you’re like most people, you’ll probably end up doing a little bit of both! The goal of FreeCycle is to keep items from going into the landfill, but like all good things, a few people have to go and ruin it for everyone else. In this blog, we’ll focus on the ways in which FreeCycle is being misused and the steps you can take to prevent this from happening.
May the Buyer (or freeloader) Beware:
Not everyone on FreeCycle is using the service to help our planet. It’s sad, but it’s true – some users just see it as a way to get a bunch of useless junk off their hands. Who knows why? Maybe it’s because they don’t feel like taking a drive down to the nearest dumpster, or maybe they’re just mean like that. Whatever the reason, that ad for a free microwave may be for a free microwave that doesn’t work at all. A good way to avoid this problem is to ask questions of the person giving away the item. Ask if it’s in working condition, and if not, what the problem is. If the person is honest and the problem is fixable, picking up the item might not be a bad way to save a few bucks and some precious earth. If it’s beyond repair, you might want to skip on the product altogether.
So what should you do if you forgot to ask this question or ended up picking up a broken item from a less-than-honest donor? Don’t be a part of the problem and simply dump the item in the landfill! You can try offering it for parts on Craigslist or on FreeCycle. If you’re upfront and specify that the item is good for parts only, then you’re more likely to have someone who actually knows how to use those parts pick it up. A trip to the dumpster should always, always be a last resort – even if it means letting a broken microwave or toaster or whatever sit in your kitchen for a few days.
As an added tip, never FreeCycle items that could potentially be a danger to others. This includes electronics with frayed cords or wires, food past the expiration date, and drugs or medicines. Not only might these things harm another person, but they might also end up making you financially responsible for any damages the person who uses them may incur.
Never Give or Get a Mixed Bag:
Quite often, you’ll come across a FreeCycle posting that reads something like this “OFFER: Bunch of stuff I don’t need anymore. Must take all.” Sometimes, the ads may be a little more specific (think: GIRLS CLOTHING, lots of sizes.) What’s wrong with that? Well, if you force the person picking up the items to take all your junk, not just the stuff they want, you might run the risk of having some of that stuff end up at the local dump. The same goes for picking up stuff – are you really going to take the time to FreeCycle or give away each individual item you don’t really need? If the answer is no, then pass on the free stuff. The odds are that if the giver didn’t bother to specify what he or she is giving away, it’s probably not anything you’d really want any way. If you’re a donor and find you have a lot of stuff on your hands, try FreeCycling only the most valuable or useful items and donating the rest to Goodwill or another charity.
No Curb Alerts:
This rule of thumb applies mostly to donors. If you plan on donating something through FreeCycle or Craigslist, don’t simply say that you’ll leave it out on the curb for the first person to pick through. This is an open invitation to hoarders and others who simply like collecting…stuff…for no real purpose. It’s always best to try and give the item away to one person, and don’t be afraid to be nosy! Ask the potential recipient why he or she is in need of a certain product and then, if you have multiple requests, try to give it to the person you feel needs it the most and who will be the least likely to toss it.
In closing, FreeCycle is a great idea and it can be a lot of fun, but if we don’t use a little responsibility and good judgment, then it can end up hurting – not helping – our planet, and who wants that?
