Freecycle - Turning a Computer into a Coffee Table.

I’ve just discovered Freecycle at uk.freecycle.org.  A great way to give away unwanted items to people in your local communtiy who do want them.  Equally people can ask for things they need.  The key idea is to keep ’stuff’ out of landfill,  but it also keeps things out of my loft and garage!!!!!   And I like the idea that it is local.

Freecycle was set up in 2003 and now has 444 local community groups across the UK. Their vision - Changing the world one gift at a time.  I came across it earlier this week when I just had to get rid of some unwanted computer equipment that had been lying around.  At 5.15pm I put a notice offering the items on the Freecycle site for Ilkley,  at 5.45pm I got a reply.  I called the gentleman, decided he was genuine and by 6.30pm  Andy had a computer he was going to make into a coffee table.  I wasn’t quite sure how he was going to do it,  apart from the fact he wanted a working machine which he was going to feature in the table.  Said it was the only way his wife would let him have a computer in the ’sitting room’.   Anyway, he seemed quite sane and I’ve asked for a photo of the finished object.  Nice to think my old rubbish is to become a work of art !!

Is seems anyone can set up a Freecycle group,  including local companies who  could perhaps offer support or take out some of the danger of choosing genuine people to give things away too; people who may come to your house to collect.  In the end I got a few more replies,  but some seemed to plead the ‘poverty and charity’ angle a little too readily.   No one makes up turning a computer into a coffee table!!