Carrie Stambaugh/The Independent
Ashland — Have something you no longer want but don’t want to throw it away?
Try giving it away through Freecycle.org.
More than 1,300 local residents are members of the Boyd County Freecycle Network, which is administered by Danielle Childers, 26, of Ashland.
“Let’s say you have an old lamp that you don’t want. Post it on there and if they want it they can come pick it up or you can meet them in public,” Childers explained.
“It is not like a charity deal. It’s just to keep things out of the landfill. With everything going on about the frenzy of recycling, this is just another option.
“It is strictly not for profit,” she said. This is the main catch: You can’t buy, sell or trade anything. Everything has to be free.”
Users have to register with the site and Childers has to approve all items posted. No adult content, drugs or drug paraphernalia are allowed.
Items posted ranged from television sets to baby cribs, clothing and even the occasional pet.
“It’s helped out a lot of people, keeping things out of landfills and giving them things that they don’t really want to go out and buy. It all works out,” Childers said.
She said the group has mainly spread through word of mouth but hopes to partner with other agencies to promote the concept.
“We just want people to know there are other options out there,” she said.
According to Freecycle.org, the concept has spread across the nation and to more than 85 countries since beginning in 2003. Freecycle.org estimates there are “thousands of local groups representing millions of members.”
The organization estimates more than 500 tons of items are kept out of landfills each day.
CARRIE STAMBAUGH can be reached at cstambaugh@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2653.
