If the idea of filling up landfills with bulky items bothers you, but you just don’t have the space anymore to keep that old chifferobe or bookcase, don’t just toss it—freecycle it. The process of “freecycling”—that is, just giving away your unwanted stuff for other people to use—can be as easy as putting an item out on the curb and adding a sign that says “Please Take Me!” Not surprisingly, metal items will go the quickest if you choose that option, simply because of their recyclable, saleable content. In fact, some people supplement their incomes by collecting recyclable objects from curbside.
Note, however, that it’s no longer legal to sell large quantities of metal without a demonstrable provenance in some areas, because a few disreputable characters have taken to recycling metal items that are still in use—like air conditioners and even the copper wiring used in rapid transit systems.
If this is the case where you live, or if other regulations against putting large items on your curb apply, it’s a better idea to take advantage of the rapidly-growing formalized freecycling movement, as epitomized by the site www.freecycle.org. There, you’ll find access to over 4,767 (!) freecycling groups in 100 countries around the world, including every state in the Union plus the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam. All will happily help you keep your unwanted stuff out of landfills. All you have to do is sign up (it’s free, of course) and you can start connecting with people in your local area who want your cast-offs.
If you don’t have any “junque” you’d like to freecycle, no worries: you can still become a member and, if you so desire, contribute funds to help maintain the Freecycle infrastructure.
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