Recycle or Freecycle?

An innovation or just a way to get rid of unwanted rubbish?
 

The word freecycle has taken over the eco friendly world with its modern take on recycling that is both free and benefiting all of the millions involved. So what is it? Freecycle is a recycling community made up of numerous different groups all across the world based upon the belief that giving away your unwanted goods is better than sending them to the local landfill! Freecycles goal is to keep usable items out of the landfills and find them new homes. By doing this freecycle reduces consumerism, leads to manufacturing less goods and results in a lesser impact on the earth.
 

Freecycle works by members posting an email top their local group offering what they have to give away. You can also post a wanted message if you are wishing to acquire something. The giver then sifts through their numerous emails and decides who gets the item. So it sounds good in theory but how does it work in reality? Well admittedly over the past year that I and my partner have been a member of the site we have acquired nothing but a television that turned out to be completely broken. I can’t even get people to have the items I donate. What I think freecycle comes down to is a lot of cheek, a sob story and the luck of the draw. I’m often bemused as I see people post wanted ads for working iPhones, flat screen TVs and antiques. The most recent wanted that troubled me was a band needing a vintage Wurlitzer keyboard as they had no instrument. Surely any would do if they hadn’t an instrument of their own? Does it have to be an antique that costs around a thousand pounds to purchase? Sadly some of the community are most definitely out there to con whilst the majority freecyclers are kind and giving people who just want to help out. It sounds so perfect in theory but in reality people are abusing it for their own financial gain. I’ve even heard whispers of people making a living from selling the free items they’d gathered from freecycle.
 

But believe me freecycle isn’t a waste of time. It is a fantastic idea that works well for some. I’ve had a few friends completely decorate their houses from freecycle, including luxury sofas and beautiful antiques. Others have finally had that Spring clean and given away a lot of unwanted items. So it does work amazingly well for some. I suppose some people are lucky or lie a bit more than I do. Sending a long sob story about having 5 kids and being a single mother whilst also being unemployed seems the best way to get the items. Straight forward honesty just doesn’t seem to work. So if you can tell a tall tale or two or simply have a lot of good karma freecycle is an amazing way to give away your unwanted items but also receive a few much needed things.