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| Last updated at 8:39 AM on 12/09/07 |
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The Freestyle website is displayed on Robyn Love’s computer. The site can be used by people wanting to get rid of unwanted possessions by passing them along. — Star Photo by Geraldine Brophy |
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Freecycling 
Website allows you to pass on unwanted possessions to those who can use them
CORY HURLEY
The Western Star
The Bay of Islands area has been joined to the worldwide gift economy.
Robyn Love of Gillams has spearheaded a local e-mail group through Yahoo in which people can rid themselves of any unwanted possessions by passing them along to others who can utilize them.
It is a part of the international organization known as The Freecycle Network. According to its website, freecycle.org it is comprised of 4,111 groups with 3,822,000 members in more than 50 countries across the globe.
It's a grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving, and getting, stuff for free in their own towns. Each local group is moderated by a local volunteer and membership is free.
"The idea is to keep things out of the landfill by using e-mail to connect people who have things to give away with people who want them," Love told The Western Star.
The local one is called The Bay of Islands Freecycle group, and can be accessed through a Yahoo group search or http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bayofislandsfreecycle/ is the web address.
"It is pretty much like any e-mail group, in that people join the group through the Yahoo group page and then they can post anything they have to offer," Love said. "The only real rule is that it has to be offered for free."
A user doesn't have to post an item right away; but can join for later use, to view what is available, or ask for something they are in need of. She said users have utilized the network for big and small items, but also for a wide range of reasons such as searching for volunteers. The group will grow itself to suit the needs of the Bay of Islands.
Love feels it can be an asset for the area.
"I had participated in New York and it is a pretty lively group there with lots of people in it," she said. "I had actually given away a lot of things and thought it was a great way to keep things out of the waste stream.
"Since I've been here I have seen a need for it. In Gillams, every year we have a large trash day where people throw away all kinds of stuff - some of which is still functional, but they just wanted to get rid of it."
The environmental component is the main focus.
"As a north shore resident, who drives past the dump every day, I see that we need creative solutions to help divert things from the landfill," she said. "This is one way - a small one - but, none the less, it is a way."
The group is in its early stages, but Love hopes it will grow through word of mouth.
The freecycle.org site lists Labrador City/Wabush, Goose Bay, Burin Peninsula, Clarenville, and St. Johns as other Freecycle networks in this province.
churley@thewesternstar.com
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12/09/07
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thanh nguyen from london, london writes: We would like to find where free cycle for computer in uk. Thanks !
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| Posted 15/09/2007 at 2:22 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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