Last updated 15:48, Thursday, 28 August 2008

One man’s junk is another man’s treasure and the global phenomenon of Freecycle is helping unused and unwanted items get a new lease of life.

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Cath Smith: Among the items colleceted through Freecycle were this dishwasher and tent

Cath Smith, 38, from Penrith, has received various items through Freecycle. Sam Kemp joined Carlisle Freecycle a year ago and is now one of the group’s moderators.

Freecycle is a network of internet-based groups set up by volunteers.

People join the groups to recycle and reuse items for free by posting messages with details of items they are offering or want.

And there are several local groups that are helping to save the planet by keeping items out of landfill sites.

Dishwashers, computers, TVs, children’s clothing and toys, coffee tables and garden sheds are just some of the items offered through the groups.

It all began in America in May 2003 and now boasts thousands of groups worldwide.

Items must be given away for free and collected from the person giving away the item.

Nationally, membership has doubled since this time last year and this popularity could be explained by the credit crunch and an ever-more watchful eye on personal finances.

Numbers are certainly on the increase in local groups but it may not just be the hard times that are attracting people to join.

According to Freecycle member Sarah Ludford, the popularity of the service is more to do with people being attracted to the principles behind it.

Sarah, who lives in Portinscale near Keswick, is a member of North Lakes Freecycle, which was set up in February 2007 and has seen its membership grow to more than 700.

There has been everything from clothes to furniture posted on the site with members ranging from those clearing out houses or setting up home to people with young children.

Sarah, 40, thinks that the increases in the numbers of people signing up to Freecycle groups has come about as more people start to hear about it.

Sarah moved to Cumbria from Manchester in May last year and joined three local groups.

She said: “I had been a member of Freecycle groups in Manchester but because the groups there are so much bigger you can often lose out on popular items.

“I have noticed that in Cumbria there is more chance of getting the items.”

Sarah has offered everything from Victorian bloomers to a metal dustbin. A spin drier that she offered was taken by a lady who dyes wool so she can make crafts.

“I would probably have thrown these items away,” she said. “They were just taking up space.”

As a mother of a five month old daughter Ella, Sarah has found Freecycle useful for children’s items.

She posted a wanted message for a sling to carry her daughter and got a response from a lady who offered her sling for Sarah to borrow as the owner would need it in the future. The same has happened with a waterproof jacket that Sarah is borrowing for her daughter.

Sarah thinks that Freecycle can help to build up a sense of community.

While she lived in Manchester she received a sofa-bed through Freecycle which turned out to be owned by the sister of a friend.

“It is a great way of saving money,” she said.

“I have found that people are really resourceful with the things that they ask for.

“There are things that I have offered that I could probably have sold but I like the idea behind Freecycle.”

She came across the service about a year ago and joined Penrith and Eden Freecycle, which was set up in January 2007 and now has more than 1,300 members.

The first item she offered on the site was a George Foreman grill, which was just gathering dust in her house, while she has been lucky enough to receive a dishwasher and a tent through the website.

“I have offered more than I have taken,” she said.

“If there is a really good item offered then it tends to go very quickly. I am at work during the day so can’t check the site but I do try to check it a couple of times after work.”

Cath is also a member of Freecycle groups in Kendal as her daughter is at college in the town and in Cardiff as this is where her other daughter lives.

She said: “I don’t like to throw things away. If there is someone who will use an item it is better than being stuck in a cupboard or thrown out.”

She is also a member of Dumfries and Galloway Freecycle.

The 39-year-old from Longtown said: “I first heard about Freecycle through word of mouth. A lot of people I know use it but there are still a lot who have never heard of it.

“I have used it a lot to both put items on and also to receive things.”

Items she has received include a table-top dishwasher, mattress and three piece suite.

When she got the three piece suite it wasn’t what she had expected so she put it back on Freecycle and someone took it within a week.

She has just received another sofa, and this time she went to look at the item before accepting it.

She said: “I was more cautious about the sofa this time because I wanted it to be right so I went to have a look first.

“ There is an option on the site to put a photograph of the item on but not everybody does this. It is always worth getting an idea of what something looks like before taking it.”

She has offered sim cards for mobile phones and her Dyson vacuum cleaner.

“My Dyson was broken,” she said.

“I thought it was the motor so I put it on Freecycle because I thought that there might be someone who could fix it or use the parts and someone did take it.

“It all helps to keep things out of landfill sites and you never know what people may be able to find a use for.”

Sam looks for items as and when she needs them and has found Freecycle particularly useful recently as she has just moved home.

There have been some guinea pigs offered recently on Dumfries and Galloway Freecycle and animal lover Sam decided they would be perfect for her nine-year-old son. She will be collecting the two guinea pigs from Dumfries on Sunday.

While posts are accepted for domestic animals in some groups, posts offering livestock are forbidden.

Carlisle Freecycle now has almost 2,000 members and there have been more than 400 messages posted so far this month.

Sam responded to an email sent to members asking for moderator.

“I wanted to put something back,” she said. “It is a free service and I wanted to do my bit.

“Since becoming a moderator I have become aware of just how many people use it and that there are more and more people joining.

“I think in the present climate people are looking more to recycle.

“When times are harder something like Freecycle helps to create a community spirit.”

Log on to www.freecycle.org and search for local groups.