Guilt-Free Regifting — the ‘Freecycle’ Way
Here is a way to regift without feeling bad. Just give the gift away through freecycle.org. “Freecycling” is a movement that recycles good stuff to people in your neighborhood. The giving has to be free.
First up, you may be able to extend the life of your computer by upgrading some of its components, or you could repurpose it (or bits of it) as a home server. Or you could give it to a friend or relative (make sure it’s powerful enough/stable enough to meet their computing needs or you’re not really being that helpful).
If you can’t repurpose the computer, recycling’s the next option. Extreme Tech’s just posted a helpful article on ways to recycle your hardware, which suggests googling “computer recycling” and your city to see what options come up. Freecycle is another option - a well established email list in which members can give away their unwanted stuff, or see what others are giving away.
It’s already the biggest distraction for office workers, who spend their time chatting with mates and “poking” strangers, but now Facebook is encouraging its members to help save the planet.
The social networking site has joined forces with a car-sharing firm that aims to cut congestion and pollution by allowing people to hitch a lift online. The concept is simple: users of Facebook can add an application that will put them in touch with others who have a car and are offering a lift, or vice versa.
Freecycle Sioux City, with its 1,055 members, is part of the Freecycle Network made up of 4,204 groups with more than 4 million members across the globe. The grassroots online exchange started in Arizona in 2003.
The Sioux City chapter lets members post items they want or simply want to give away. The members, who make their own arrangements for the exchanges, must live within 60 miles of Sioux City in Iowa, South Dakota or Nebraska.
A church leader has called on people to think of the environment this festive season by recycling leftover food and unwanted Christmas presents.
The Reverend John Owen, leader of the Presbyterian Church of Wales, said “the nativity had a minimal effect on the environment”.
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“Even unwanted presents can be recycled and put to good use through, for example, charity shops and freecycle schemes.”
What to do with the old items when the new gifts arrive?
Anything that works, donate. Toys can go to shelters for battered women and children. Working appliances can be offered on Freecycle or donated to resale shops such as Goodwill or the Salvation Army.
Every week, Burt and Corlew, both employed in Nashville, head to their favorite trash bins, pulling out everything from broccoli to limes, mushrooms to bell peppers, all under cover of night.
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The couple also use online groups such as FreeCycle - think Craigslist, with everything free - and a Google community group for east Nashville residents.
McCauley recently posted a want ad for a whiteboard on the Google group and had it by that afternoon.
If you have an interest in the environment and like the idea of reusing other people’s junk, or have unwanted Christmas presents that you want to recycle then Freecycle could be for you.
The non-profit network is based on the premise that “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure” and is about harnessing the power of the internet to connect communities and ‘gift’ each other everyday objects that they no longer want.
check out the website Freecycle for a range of present for nothing. Freecycle is an online group where items people no longer want are offered to other users, all for free. There are plenty of second hand fake Christmas trees on the site available for stockpiling for next year.
It is also worth a cursory look at Freecycle for those plotting a New Year’s party. While alcohol is not allowed on the Freecycle website, other things to jazz up your party, such as disco balls and sound systems can be picked up, all for free.
For those more interested in ridding themselves of unwanted stuff than making some cash, there is Freecycle.org, a Web site that connects local users who have unwanted goods with those in search of those items.
Founder Deron Beal sees a rise in activity on the free-trade site after New Year’s Eve, with “lots of Santa socks and ties” up for grabs. Later on, he said, there are “plenty of abdominizers.”
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