Running a Freecycle Group

And then of course, you run into members who play the he said she said game. ” So and so promised me this widget but gave it to someone else” or ” this widget isn’t what they said it was” or…whatever. Times like this we become babysitters to our group and try to figure out what really happened. Really, there’s not much we can do, in worse case scenarios we can ban a member if their behavior is egregious enough, but that’s fairly rare.

You also have members who have a serious case of “gimme” syndrome. Members who post “Wanteds” for everything under the sun and never “offer” a single item in return. Those are quite often the same members who try to get everything that is posted as an “Offer” on the site.

For all the occasional headaches, though, Freecycle fosters a wonderful sense of community amongst its most giving members. I have made terrific friends from this group, people I never otherwise would have met. Not only that, When I sit and think about all the things that would have ended up in our clogged landfills being given a “second chance” at life, I feel as though in a small way at least, I am contributing to the future of our planet.

Think about the stuff filling your closets, your drawers, garages, storage sheds…think about how much space you could make by getting rid of it! Do you have old curtains you know you’ll never hang again? Sports equipment from when your 30-year-old child was in middle and high school? Exercise equipment collecting dust and rusting? A pile of cardboard boxes from your last move? A cabinet full of mis matched dishes that are never used? Bags of clothing that never quite made it to the thrift store? More bags of old, outgrown children’s toys? Books in a box that haven’t been read in years? Old baby equipment you no longer need? The thing is, everyone has something that don’t need. But don’t want to throw away, because its still “good” Force the pack rat in yourself to part with some of this stuff, and make new friends in the process! But please, on behalf of all the owners and moderators, read the rules. And Follow them! There’s not many, it’s not hard. Play nice and be considerate.

If you are already a member of your local group, be considerate in your dealings with other members and the “staff”. We are people too, and do our best to make everyone happy and things running smoothly, but sometimes, that just doesn’t quite work out!

Happy Freecycling everyone! Help keep our landfills cleared!

To find a Freecycle group in your community, or to start one if there is not one local to you, visit
Free Cycle.