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Freecycle

The next time you clean out your garage or that long-neglected storage room, think twice before you throw away your old sewing machine, bag of clothes, or used toys. Chances are, your old junk is somebody else’s hot find. No, we’re not talking yard sales here. We’re talking “freecycling.”

The Freecycle Network, launched in 2003 to reduce landfill use in Tucson, AZ, gives people across the globe the chance to swap unwanted items with people in their own communities (or elsewhere) who’d love to give a new home to the stuff cluttering up yours.

Can’t find an unusual item yourself, or just don’t feel like laying down the cash for it? You can search the Freecycle web site for hidden treasures.

There are no fees attached to freecycling, and just a few rules: Everything posted must be legal, free of charge and appropriate for all ages. The group currently has more than 2 million members and involves nearly 3,500 communities from around the world. The Network’s goals are to reduce waste, encourage giving and preserve resources while encouraging a greater sense of community.

Recycling through the re-use of items provides numerous health and environmental benefits to communities. By re-using items, we reduce the pressure to manufacture more, saving energy and reducing pollution. We also reduce the amount of waste going to landfills. In the case of items such as computers and other electronics, which contain lead, cadmium, and fire retardants, recycling lessens the amount of these toxic substances that could potentially end up in groundwater or contaminating soil.

To learn more about freecycling, go to: www.freecycle.org or click here.

To read more about potential toxic hazards of electronics and the need for recycling, click here.

To read more about this and other environmental health issues, go to: www.environmentalhealthnews.org, www.ourstolenfuture.org or www.healthandenvironment.org.