I’ve been thinking a lot about the things we own and what they mean. From Buy Nothing Day to Freecycle to The Story of Stuff, rethinking our relationship to money and material possessions is a central theme within the sustainability debate. Many greens believe we’ve become too wrapped up in our love of stuff. But I wonder if we’ve got it the wrong way around. Maybe we don’t love our stuff enough.
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Myth: “Biodegradable” products that return to their natural state save landfill space.
Reality: Modern landfills are designed to keep out sunlight, air and moisture to prevent air and water pollution, thus inhibiting degradation. The FTC’s definition of a biodegradable product is one that will completely decompose within a reasonably short period of time under customary methods of disposal. Because most landfilled garbage won’t pass that test, you’re better off reducing your contribution to solid waste (according to the EPA, the average American generates almostfive pounds of garbage a day). At the store, look for a claim of “post-consumer recycled” content, then recycle what you can. Also use sites such as Freecycle.org instead of hauling reusable stuff to the dump.
Need a household appliance? Want some books? For Free? Go to Freecycle. People post items they no longer need, and you can also post items you are looking for. The only requirement is that the receiver has to pick up the items. (This is great way to also help your fellow community members and get some cleaning out done all at once.)
You could use your blog to help spread the word about:
Freecycle.org — a grassroots nonprofit movement, Freecycle connects local givers and getters of free stuff. Instead of throwing something into a landfill, Freecycle can help you find out if someone else might make good reuse of your stuff.
Sign up for Freecycle - Freecycle is such a great way to get things you need; people are recycling their unwanted items and the receivers are saving money because everything is free. Hawai’i state has options for the different islands. Also, look into the toy/book swaps, many moms get together and exchange toys or books on the weekends and make an event out of it.
7. Find free stuff
Why buy new what you can get used—especially when you can get it for free? The Freecycle Network keeps track of local free-exchange groups whose goal is to keep used stuff out of landfills and put it into the hands of people who want it. You’ll find just about anything on Freecycle, from printers to Mac SEs to random mice and cables. People post what they have to offer; you respond if you want it. Most offers receive more than one response; it’s up to the giver to decide who gets the item.
Freecycle - This grassroots global network has chapters in virtually every major city in the world. There are over 80 groups in New York State alone! If you have a couch, cellphone, pots and pans in good condition to give away, or you need plants, tons of plastic bottles for an art project, or nail polish, Freecycle is a good site to comb through. Their mission is very simple and practical: “it’s all about reuse and keeping good stuff out of landfills.”
We love freecycle (freecycle.org), the locally managed Internet-based exchange listing of items you either need or want to get rid of for free. From transferring our flock of chickens to a new home and sharing the abundance of our garlic scapes to picking up a replacement microwave oven, we’ve used freecycle for just about anything. We’re also building greater community connections. Our Monroe area community is one of over 4,000 Freecycle Communities in the Freecycle Network. As Freecycle explains on their website: “It’s all about reuse and keeping good stuff out of landfills. Each local group is moderated by a local volunteer (them’s good people). Membership is free.”
What is exactly is freecycling? It is when someone gives away an unwanted item, for free, to another person. That item could be anything from tools to appliances. So instead of throwing things away to sit in landfills, you can give them away to someone who needs them. You weren’t expecting money anyway for something you were going to put out to the trash. Freecycling is a great way to reuse what we own while reducing our carbon footprint.
Buy used, before you buy new
Websites like Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Craigslist act as forums that allow you to buy and sell used products. Not only does this mean lower prices, but it also cuts down on waste when companies produce new (and customers discard old) products. You can even find new-to-you stuff, and get rid of old stuff, for free with the help of Freecycle.org. Freecycle is a grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving (& getting) stuff for free in their own towns. It’s all about reuse and keeping good stuff out of landfills.
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