A few weeks ago, we posted about the need for less “stuff” in our world (and in our landfills … and in our closets) and making sure the stuff we do have is more durable than disposable.
It’s a great premise … but eventually we outgrow some of even the most durable stuff and then what? Are you destined to have a garage full of old toys, electronics, chipped plates and dusty lamps because you don’t want to add them to the dump pile?
Not by a long shot. The online recycling community is growing every day – and just as one person’s trash is another’s treasure, there’s an online swap site for virtually everything you need (or, need to get rid of). Freecycle is perhaps one of the best-known and most widespread online recycling networks, with an estimated 5 ½ million members and more than 4,000 “communities” across the globe, and many other “mainstream” options exist, including:
- Reuseitnetwork.org
- Sharingisgiving.org
- Freesharing.org
- Craigslist.org (most items are for sale but there is a free section)
In addition, there are specialty swap sites for everything from college textbooks (socialbib.com) to children’s toys and gear (zwaggle.com) to music, DVDs and video games (swaptree.com). We even found one where you can swap that gift card you received for the store you never shop at for another gift card you might actually use (swapagift.com).
Swapping puts your used stuff where it can do the most good – in the hands of someone who needs it – rather than in a landfill. (Plus, it makes space in your house for the 3 things you find on Freecycle that you suddenly can’t live without.)
Our thanks to the Lean Green Family for inspiring this post and reminding us that it’s better to give than to throw away.
