Freegle

“Don’t throw it away, give it away”

The Idea“Don’t throw it away, give it away”

• The problem:• Average person in the UK sends

about 319kg to landfill per year• The solution

• Free gifts to keep “stuff” out of landfill• Sofas, computers, clothes, Giant African

Land-Snails, World War II air-raid shelters…• Free to join, free to use• Saves money, effort and the planet

Using it

• Local virtual communities• Go to http://ilovefreegle.org• Find a local group on Yahoo, e.g.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EdinburghFreegle

• Reply to WANTED or OFFER mails• Send them yourself• People sort out collection between

themselves

Why it works

• Makes it easy – low barrier to entry• Variety of motives– Environment– Community– Finance– Convenience

• Technology creating community

“What a waste”

“It’s a shame to throw it away”

“Someone could use this…but who?”

“It’s nice, but just not right for me”

“It doesn’t fit me any more”

Running It

• What needs doing?– Moderating groups– Spreading the word– Tools and Processes

• Who does it?– Entirely volunteer-run – 265 groups across the UK– 1.1 million members– Hundreds of volunteers

• Varies enormously• Some excellent– Fund banners, leaflets, business cards– Tip sites, schools, libraries, roadshows

• Some minimal– Website link– Erm….that’s it

• Under the radar

What Councils Have Done

“Waste not, want not”

“Out of site, not out of mind”

“Why tip it or skip it when you can give it away?”

“Don’t use it, lose it”

“Surely someone would want this?”

Big Society

• Could there be a better example?

• Volunteers and local communities can achieve so much

• …and only so much

• Should be easy – we’re saving councils money

Junk….or Community Greenhouse?

What Next?

• We don’t need money (much)• We need publicity– Opening doors– Media– Promotion

• And co-operation/permission– Stickers on wheelie bins– Banners at tips– Special uplifts

Summary“Don’t throw it away, give it away”

• Simple brilliant idea …underpinned by technology

• Throwing stuff away should be like drink-driving

…responsible citizens just don’t do it

• Unique virtual movement…volunteer run

• We need publicity, not funding