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Viewing Topic: A freecycle experience

  • A freecycle experience

    "A few weeks ago, I tried to shift a 10-year-old Apple Power Mac and a similarly ancient (in computer terms) Mac laptop. Both worked, so to throw them in a skip would have been wasteful and created toxic waste (computers can contain heavy metals and chemicals). I'd checked the likes of Computer Aid International (computeraid.org) and the Community Recycling Network (crn.org.uk). Both accepted PCs, but the words "10-year-old Apple Mac" resulted in polite rejection.

    So I tried Freecycle (uk.freecycle.org), an online forum where people give away and pick up unwanted stuff, free of charge. It has 4,009 communities worldwide and, according to its online counter, 3,401,532 users. I joined my local group and tentatively posted my message: "Offered: Power Mac with printer and Powerbook laptop, bought in 1997 but working fine, need to be collected." Within three hours I'd had 30 replies. Suddenly my Macs were seen as a valuable resource. Jenny wanted the laptop for her 11-year-old son who was "a Mac fanatic", while Julie wanted it for her soon-to-be daughter-in-law; Ben needed computers for his charity in Zimbabwe."

    See the full story at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2007/apr/21/practicaladvice.homesandgardens

    Posted about 1 year ago by Green Voice and has 1 reply
  • I first joined, and I feel ironically got a dozen interested people replying in a day about the CCTV cameras I wanted to get rid of, most people trying to tighten up security on the own properties. LESSON 1. Always chose to give to the most worthy recipient, in an ethical way. I have offered my ancient GP(R)S Magellen, to someone local who never came round (so far!) to collect, they said they do treasure-hunting called "geocaching" with the devices for fun. Well I thought she had really pulled something out the bag on Freecycle. LESSON 2. If it still work F-re-e use!! I have received, or should say picked up from my neighbours: a ceramic shower base, brand new s/s kitchen sink (yes!) and a plastic shower unit- 4 walled/door etc. LESSON 3. One too many -times- touched bases! These days I don't worry much about knocking on peoples doors ( one for sorrow... ) directly! happy christmas

    Written 11 months ago by Aniel Paranjpe

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