Reduce, Re-use, Freecycle

FreecycleTM is a global collection of email groups. When you sign up to the one that covers your local area, you're connected to people in your community who either want to give you things, or take yours away - for free.

The idea is simple - passing on things you no longer have a need for saves the planet's resources and keeps them out of landfill. If you have something you don't want any more, you post an Offer email to the group and wait for responses. Pick the lucky recipient, arrange a time for them to pick it up and pat yourself on the back for being so green. Anything goes, from baby clothes and books to odd paving slabs and excess plants.

On the other hand, if you need something that you feel other people may have lying around unwanted (an exercise bike, perhaps, or a juicer after the New Year resolutions have worn off) then post a Wanted notice and see whether anyone has one you can have. Not only will you save money, but you're doing the original owner a favor by taking it off their hands.

There's only one main rule - everything must be free. You can't offer, or ask for, anything in return. It would also be bad form to sell on anything you receive. If you later find you no longer have a use for it, then send it back out into Freecycle land.

When you join a Freecycle group, you will be provided with information on the local etiquette, but here are five tips to get you started:

1. If you're joining your local Freecycle group to get rid of, rather than re-home, stuff then choose to receive the digests rather than individual emails. Many Freecycle groups are high-traffic, and will quickly fill your inbox.
2. Emails are generally not allowed to include photos, but there should be a gallery area you can upload them to if your item defies description
3. When you receive multiple requests for the same item, keep them all until the item has been collected. Non-collection is quite common, and having a record of who else is interested saves posting the item again.
4. There's no pressure on you to give your item to the first person that asks. Some of the more worthy recipients may not be online as often, so if you care who receives your item it can pay to wait before responding to any emails.
5. Find a good online map to your location and keep a link to it handy - it's much easier than passing on directions.