Freecycle

Freecycle is an innovative online community similar to LETS for its Use of the idea of trading goods using online without the use of money. Freecycle is based around the trading of goods as opposed to services. The organisation's goal is to try to keep as many usable items out of landfills, doing this by finding new owners for these items through an online community.

They explain, "The worldwide Freecycle Network is made up of many individual groups across the globe. It's a grassroots movement of people who are giving (and getting) stuff for free in their own towns.

Freecycle groups match people who have things they want to get rid of with people who can use them. Our goal is to keep usable items out of landfills. By using what we already have on this earth, we reduce consumerism, manufacture fewer goods, and lessen the impact on the earth. Another benefit of using Freecycle is that it encourages us to get rid of junk that we no longer need and promote community involvement in the process. "


For users a huge advantage is that large unwanted goods can be collected cost free by another user who is happy to take ownership of the unwanted item. Again it provides a platform where offers can be seen easily by large numbers of people. Conversely people make requests for goods and in turn users looking to offload good can seek out these people to trade with.

I think this is another effective platform for trading that could be exported around the world. It is something I could genuinely see people using because it is so simple to find new owners for unwanted goods that even if there are no takers, nothing has been lost. The incentive is simply that you are helping the environment, people in your community and saving time in not having to take these items to the tip.

www.uk.freecycle.org/