If your spring cleanup has left you with a pile of stuff that’s still useful but maybe not the kind of thing resale shops want, consider using FreeCycle and Free ReCycling Cleveland. These sites will help you get rid of — or acquire for free — anything from a ceiling light fixture or a storm door to a guitar or a playpen.
If yard sales aren’t your style, use FreeCycle and Free ReCycle Cleveland to keep it all out of the landfill.
Photo credit: Pallawiki
FreeCycle is a grassroots nonprofit volunteer network of people who are giving away and getting stuff for free in their own towns — reusing and keeping good stuff out of landfills. Membership in local chapters is free. Members post notices that list and describe the items they’re giving away, or hope to acquire, without charge.
Free ReCycling Cleveland is a similar organization that operates only in Northeast Ohio.
Decided that this isn’t the hat for you? Find someone to love it on FreeCycle or Free ReCycling Cleveland. Credit: hbrinkman
Give those discarded kitchen cabinets — and maybe that microwave — new life through FreeCycle or Free ReCycling Cleveland. Credit: Tomwsulcer
FreeCycle
To join Freecycle:
- Go to the group’s website, www.freecycle.org, enter the city and state or the zip code for your community and click “go.”
- The search engine will return either an exact match (if any) for the zip code or a list of possible matches for a city and state.
- Click on the search result and you’ll be redirected to the local FreeCycle group’s page.
- Join your local group. Join more than one, if that works for you.
- You should receive a series of email messages from the local group — guidelines, disclaimer, “who we are, what we do,” etc. Read them.
While you wait for the emails:
- Read the FAQs (link at left-hand side of the top navigation bar).
- Read the Files (link in the box on the left side of the web page).
- Read some of the posts (click on “Messages”) to see how members use the site.
When you’re ready to start, click on “Post” to begin posting.
Got a new riding mower? Moving into a condo? Send the old push mower to a new lawn through FreeCycle or Free ReCycling Cleveland. Credit: Halley from Boston
Free ReCycling Cleveland
To join Free ReCycling Cleveland:
- Go to the Yahoo Groups FreeRecyclingCleveland website, click on Join This Group and follow the instructions.
- Once you’ve joined, learn about the group: click on the Files link in the box on the left side of the web page. Read all the files — the documents aren’t long, and they’ll explain how your membership works.
- Read some of the posts to see how members use the site.
- Begin posting: “Offer” (what you want to give away) or “Wanted” (what you need). (Note that Free ReCycling Cleveland does not allow listing of pets.)
These sites are not intended as markets for buying and selling. For that, you have eBay,Craigslist, amazon and the rest of the web.
Take a look a some more ways you can use FreeCycle and Free ReCycle Cleveland to simplify your life:
You’ve stepped on the Legos barefoot for the last time — let FreeCycle and Free ReCycling Cleveland help you find the next victim. Credit: Priwo
Decided that Tiffany’s more your style? Brighten someone else’s life through FreeCycle or Free ReCycling Cleveland. Credit: Joe Mabel
Whether it’s the magnets or the refrigerator you want to get rid of, let the world know through FreeCycle or Free ReCycling Cleveland. Credit: Tweek
Find a new home for a pet carrier. And FreeCycle — but not Free ReCycling Cleveland — will help you find a home for the pet, too. Credit: Utente
Finally ready to give up your musical dreams? Find a new home for that drum set on FreeCycle or Free ReCycling Cleveland. Credit: Manowarwarrior
Use FreeCycle and Free ReCycling Cleveland to help you keep it out of the landfill!
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Keep It Out of the Landfill 