Freecycle - Please posts all freecycle stuff here (merged)

mike_paterson

Cat72 wrote:

Can I ask is it hard to start a group ? and how on earth do you do it. I have some time on my hands and there is no group that covers my area. I think it could badly do with one, can anyone advise on the pros & cons. Thanks

I started my local group earlier this year and the process is pretty easy. It does help to have a small understanding of how Yahoo Groups work.

You will need to put in some effort though. It is recommended that messages from all new members are moderated (checked by you to make sure they conform to the rules and are legal etc.).

You will also take time resolving disputes and answering questions. You then will want the groupo to grow so will need to talk to local press/council, etc for support.

There is a Support group for group owners and moderators, so none of this is difficult - just wanted to point out that you need to be prepared to make the investment into your group.

Best of Luck
Mike

mike_paterson

lil_me wrote:

I have seen freecycle abused, heard of a lot of people using it to stock for car boot, some selling private, some asking for cars for family then selling them, someone asking for laptops repeatedly and then selling etc, shocking really that such a good thing is being abused.

As the aim of Freecycle is predominantly to keep 'stuff' out of landfill, then the car booters are not abusing the system, and nor are the PC recyclers. So long as they state in Wanted's that they will be selling the items on for profit, that is OK.

Why is this good, well to take PC's for an example, A PC costs a huge amount environmentally to manufacture and at the end of its life is not the sort of thing that I would want going into landfill. The PC recyclers generally ask for any bits and Computers working or not, that they then recycle - creating cheap useable computers that they sell (or sometimes give) to others. They basically take stuff that is of no use to anyone, and with their time and skill convert it to something that is useful and therefore is not put into landfill.

Having said that, I always prefer to gift items to genuine individuals for their personal use, and as the Offerer, I have the choice to whom I give it. As far as I am concerned this mitigates against any 'abuse'.

scotgirl2

yes i am member of the Glasgow and paisley free cycle group and have received some stuff from members and its great to meet people also as most are very nice and friendly but i have seen some posts that are a bit cheeky like " looking for ipods on freecycle group", whne you know its just not fair play. i would love to set up a scottish local group myself as i stay 25 miles away from glasgow.

mike_paterson

scotgirl2 wrote:

i would love to set up a scottish local group myself as i stay 25 miles away from glasgow.

Go for it !

scotgirl2

yes would love to but someone needs to give me some pointers as these are too good to be true and sometimes travelling to glasgow when have no transport is hard, so greenock/gourock/port glasgow freecycling would be good

mike_paterson

scotgirl2 wrote:

yes would love to but someone needs to give me some pointers

As mattogier said above - go to http://www.freecycle.org/startagroup/ and fill out the form.

You will then get all the help you need from the new group approver.

scotgirl2

i have just applied for my own home town, just hope i can do it okay

mike_paterson

Good Luck with it - it is not too difficult !

mattogier

scotgirl2 wrote:

...and sometimes travelling to glasgow when have no transport is hard, so greenock/gourock/port glasgow freecycling would be good

There is a Helensburgh Freecycle (My Dad lives in Cove) which is just a ferry hop away (I think) - that may be a good bet for you to join too.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/helensburgh-freecycle/

Cheers

Matt

scotgirl2

yes i have joined that also