Brian Stephens
Daily Egyptian
Gather all of your useless junk, post it on-line and have someone pick it up - for free.
It doesn't involve searching around Carbondale, and it's only a click away.
Everything from kittens to lawn furniture is now being offered on-line as part of a new grassroots movement called Freecycle.
As the name suggests, it is all about offering and taking stuff for free - no prices allowed.
After joining a local group, a member can post "offers" - things to
give away and "wants" - things needed. The giver will then choose whom
they want to give it to.
The movement is all about waste reduction, according to the Web Site.
Kris Schachel, coordinator of Southern Illinois Center for a Sustainable Future, Inc., said she thought it was a good idea.
"I think it is a really good way for people to connect," she said. "You
don't have useless junk cluttering up your house, but you're not
throwing it away into the landfill either."
The original site started in mid-2003 in Arizona and has spread around
the world. It now has more than 1.2 million members in 2,700 on-line
communities. There are 516 members in Carbondale.
In an interview with the BBC last Monday, founder Deron Beal said his aim was to cut waste and help the environment.
"I live in the Sonora desert, which is one of the most beautiful
deserts in the world. And smack-dab in the middle of this desert,
you've got this hideous landfill, half of which is full of perfectly
good reusable stuff," Beal said.
Joe Lillig, moderator of the Carbondale Freecycle group, said he read about the group in 2004 and wanted to get involved.
"There are so many things out there that are free or useable," Lillig said. "So why waste it?"
Lillig said his favorite part about running the group is helping people.
He recalled one case where someone had posted a "want" describing how
her trailer had burned down. They described what they needed, and a
week later a message was posted thanking everyone for their help.
Lillig also urged people not to make the Web site a political platform.
He said it was about feeling safe and people helping other people, not
trying to bring other people down.
"I think it's great just to able to have a resource and have it be
something free." Lillig said. "I think the whole social tool that it
is, helping each other out and saving money, is great."
