Free Table - Recycling at its best

[shellyr44]

I work at our local university and they have set up tables in some of the buildings called free tables. Staff, students and even faculty will bring things from home they no longer want or can use and everyone helps their selves. I think this is so cool. I have gotten brand new LL Bean work boots for my son, some really nice clothes, stuff for my green house, all kinds of good stuff. I've taken in stuff also and it usually doesn't last long. I think it's a great idea and wish more places would do this. I know there is community free recycles and such but not everyone can make it to these. I hope some of you can maybe start a free table at work.

[wy_white_wolf]

Have you found http://www.freecycle.org/ ? They should have a group in your area

[Windy in Kansas]

I like to see such. A previous place of employment would on occasion put out advertising items that had been given by salesmen. I have gotten a mouse pad, a decent pen, note pads, a calendar, etc. from such.

A couple of months ago a household nearby started setting a table beside the street with a "Free" label showing the items on it were being given away. I never stopped because it was on a narrow busy street, but I sure did look the items over every time I went by. It is gone now so I assume that all items were dispersed or the city made them stop because of traffic problems.

Good idea. I recall reading that some towns have swap days where folks can exchange items via some means. Sounds like a good idea rather than adding to a landfill.

[COSunflower]

I work at a middle school and in our staff lounge we have a FREE table. I have also put un-needed furniture (nice book shelves, coffee tables etc.) beside my fence along the road with FREE on them. They all were gone within half an hour. We have alot of poor young families in this neighborhood and I like to give what I can to help them out. I also take my son's unwanted clothing (nice but just unwanted anymore) and have let my students go through and take it. My son's are 29 and 30 so buy nice instyle stuff. The big 8th grade boys LOVE when I bring clothes to school! Many of them cannot afford to have more than a couple outfits and where the same thing over and over and over.

[SquashNut]

They have them at the dumps here. I've gotten books, dishes, clothes and other stuff. I've left stuff also.
To be honest I'd rather leave it there than donate to the local thrift stores.

[hunter63]

Freecycle is big around here, sometimes 80+ emails a day with offers.

I have real good luck on putting out stuff on the curb, only last 1/2 hr and I have picked up all kinds of stuff, from the curb also.

Now is the season for bailed straw, after Halloween, 2 bails already.

[saramark]

Most of what I get on freecycle emails is requests, that and storm windows. We do get about 30 emails a week on ours. Only about 7 or 8 offers, mostly desired items. Funny what people will ask for. I once saw someone asking for a TV, larger than 27" with remote. I don't see how anyone would NEED anything like that, let alone feel comfortable being that picky. I should ask for a new van or some free sheep. We mostly use www.unclehenrys.com around here, which is a Maine swap and sell paper. That is the bees knees, lemme tell ya what.

mark

[MariaAZ]

Our freecycle limits the number of "wanted" ads; you have to offer something first. It is also very busy. I've had luck getting rid of packing peanuts and bubble wrap, and we picked up a few things (including over 150 feet of 2"x12" wood planks; perfect for raised beds!)

Craigslist also has a "free" section. I found a new home for a car engine; within 20 minutes of posting the ad, someone was on their way to pick up the thing.

However, when it comes to large items like the fridge and mattress we got rid of a few years ago, I simply put them in the yard with "free to good homes" signs on them. Both were gone by the following morning.

[yankeeterrier]

I got an AWESOME WORKING SNOWBLOWER from Freecycle. Of course we picked it up on the hottest day of the year and got some pretty strange looks. Also some laying hens and a purebred cockerel, canning jars and small appliances. I've also rehomed a few older microwaves, some window blinds and other small misc stuff. Freecycle has been very, very good to me!

Dianne

[hotzcatz]

We have a motorcycle out front now with a big "free" sign on it. We don't get a lot of traffic, though, so it might take a couple days to find a new home.

They've started putting "recycle" tents at the rubbish tips around here. If it is still good, it goes to the tent and if there's anything there you want, take it away. Years ago, when I lived on a boat in the Ala Wai, we had a place by the bath house where all the "recycle" stuff went. If it stayed there for longer than several days, it would get tossed into the nearby dumpster but most stuff found new homes.

[Wildwood Flower]

I happened to be visiting my daughter in Alexandria, VA last year on the weekend that they had "FREE GARBAGE DAY". It was fabulous!

People put everything you could think of out front of their homes, and even larger furniture--anything!

Then everybody went around and picked up whatever they wanted. It was so fun.

I got a wonderful old oak beveled mirror. There was a whole lot of would have gotten, had I lived there.

We also got rid of an old recliner and a bunch of toys of my grandson's.

What fun!

[Jenn]

When we lived in Germany and England we loved bulk trash days. Those folks are so posh they'd throw out something we'd buy as almost new. GOt a few good chairs and tables not to mention lumber for otehr projects.

[DamnearaFarm]

Freecycle here is a joke. In a year or so of trying, I've yet to have gotten anything and very rarely am I emailed back. There are people who ask for cars, laptops, PS3s, Razor phones, HD tvs you name it. About 80% of the appliances and electronics are broken and says so in the ad.

Then there are the ones who beg for items for whatever organization they wish, despite repeated requests that it isn't a charity based thing, but a recycling movement.

Sounds like these tables are the way to go, though.

[hotzcatz]

The "FREE" motorcycle found a new home this morning and he's going to bring back a couple loaves of sweet bread next time he's baking. It's one of our neighbors who is a very good baker and his son-in-law wanted the motorcycle and was all anxious that it was going to disappear overnight so he showed up pretty early this morning to take it away. Yay!

[Jan in CO]

Our church has a free table, too. It's amazing the things people will put out by the curb. I picked up a really nice looking mother of pearl inlaid chest in Hawaii by the curb, then figured I wouldn't be able to do the work on it that was needed, so put it out by my curb. In less than 10 minutes, someone stopped to ask if it was free, and it went to another home. Love it! I'd much rather give something to a friend, or even a stranger than have it go to the dump. Jan in Co