Freecycle

I have become interested in recycling. It is a statuary necessity in New York state.

The recycling truck comes around twice a week, taking paper, card, bottles, cans and plastic. It's amazing how it all mounts up too. I spent a few weeks not knowing who to ring to find out what I left out when, collecting my recycling in advance. I have taken four collections to get up to date . Still next week I shall just be putting out one soda box stuffed with paper and card and one storage box of everything else. I do like putting out my cache. I feel all smug and helpful when I see just how much land I am not causing to be filled each week.

So - when I heard on Women's Hour (BBC Radio 4) , on Red Nose Day, that there was an organisation in which members offered up items to each other - free - I was thrilled. Smugocity and free things. One of my favourite combinations! Freecycling is a wonderful idea.

There are local chapters, all communicating by email (Yahoo Groups - in the case of my local group), posting items no longer needed or wanted for other members to ask for. You can offer up whatever is cluttering up your home (as long as it has useful life left in it) and members email you offlist to ask if they may have it. You simply email the person you choose (it is, after all, a gift. You choose who you gift) and arrange for them to collect it wherever suits you best. fabulous idea.

Sadly, I do not own any of the items requested on my local list. I don't have any of them, let alone spares of any of them. I shall keep looking though. I should like to hand over something which is collecting dust at home and know someone shall get pleasure out of it. Anyway. I may see something being offered which I simply can't live without. Best I go and make space ready for it.

Oh. And if you think you may own something which will just be perfect in the space I am about to create? Here's the website. www.freecycle.org