The Art of Free Cycling

Free cycling is when a person passes an unwanted item on to another person for free. Rather than disposing of the item in the trash and having the item find its way into the garbage dump the practice of free cycling frees up space in landfills and cuts down on the need to manufacture new goods.  It is eco-friendly, economical, fun and a good use/re-use of resources.

 

Groups are arranged locally as it is easiest to trade/exchange and travel locally.  You can find these groups using Facebook, the Free cycle network, freecycle.org/.  Each group has its own rules that are for the benefit of the group.  Remember you are not just there to find stuff and resell it.  SO NOT COOL.  Etiquette is to offer items as well as seek them.

WANTED:  searching for an item.

FOUND: telling others you found what you were looking for

OFFER: letting the group know you have an item(s) to give away

TAKEN: informs the group that you have successfully passed the item on to its new life.

What can be free cycled or found on a free cycle network.

Any working appliance can find homes in shelters, low income households etch. Dumping an item when there others struggling to afford that same item is fundamentally wrong.  Computers are highly sought after ~ many children can use one to do their homework on.

Furniture.  From baby needs to adult furniture, these things move fast.  Many people are looking for items to creatively re-construct or cheaply makeover.  Mattresses are heavily sought after in low-income situations.  We even free-cycled a broken wooden bed frame and the family that came for it were excited to rescue, renovate and use it.

Children's play equipment such as swing sets and trampolines to baby rattles are also popular. Please check all aspects of safety on the product before offering as a free cycle item or  receiving as a free cycle item.   Some cribs, car seats and high chairs simply are not allowed to trade hands anymore.  The safety of a child is paramount. 

Collectables, clothing, compost, flowers, hardware, leftover housing renovation products, fish tanks, old carpet, pools, books and on and on and on....can be reused, repurposed and rehomed.

 

Here is our list of items we've acquired from Freecycle:

 

Garden Plants                             

16x10 decking                                 

1986-2008 Complete set of National Geographics

Roof for our chicken house

fencing

Futon Frame

 

Items I've rehomed

Garden plants

table saw (not working for parts)

Fish Tanks

Broken Bed Frame

Bedding

 

Items that cannot be free cycled include:  animals, tobacco, alcohol, guns, ammunition, knives and in other words anything illicit.

So try it.  I’m pretty sure you will like it.  The benefits will leave a smile on many faces.