apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I recently had my partner move in and had to significantly thin out my belongings...but everything that I was too small/obscure to warrant a craigslist post. so, I laid it out a day before garbage day, and was shocked what/how much/how quickly things went, and that some items I thought for sure would be taken were not.

The freecycler just needs to coordinate their putting-out schedule with regular garbage/recycling so it doesn't sit out there for a week, and realize that the items remain their responsibility even while they are on the curb (yeah, you have to pick up that pile of books people ripped up and threw around). When its up for offer, also, try to present it in an orderly fashion (in sorted bags, or on shelving if you happen to be giving that away, too).

People want some weird stuff. I don't understand why, but I'm glad someone took my old beat up sneakers.

lazy litter to put it out for free -- our local Freecycle actually forbids folks from putting stuff out and posting a message "free stuff, come and get it!" Instead, folks are supposed to set up with one individual (and back ups) to get rid of stuff. Plus -- if you just leave it out, there is a good chance it will get ruined and then it will have to go to the dump anyway!

I've done the Craig's list "assorted items on curb at intersection of X and Y [picture]" because I don't like sorting through all the individual creep emails people send, or weirdos having my exact address. Of course, if it doesn't go in a day or two, I actually toss it. Usually everything goes.

My rules are: Only put stuff out on the curb if there's a fair bit of passing traffic, and room for both it and wheelchairs or scooters. Whatever's still out by the next day, bring back in and dispose of some other way. Keep an eye on it; if folks trash it, clean it up and don't put out anything else, ever -- you've the bad luck to live in a neighborhood with slobs.

If you put it out a night or two before garbage night, it's okay. Otherwise it's dumpy.

Sometimes you can't help it though, you're moving. Then you just have to put it out and hope for the best.

It is lazy. It is litter. And everywhere I've lived it's illegal. My city's trash collectors are pretty quick to code large items left on the sidewalk with a florescent orange paint stripe. (Such items littering my sidewalk this afternoon include a cabinet, a broken shelf, and broken mini-blinds.) Junk then sits there for about a week, a target for vandals and mildew, before being picked up by the city (our tax $$'s at work) and then going into the landfill. There are so many effective and easy ways to give away stuff on the internet and to local schools/adventure playgrounds, etc. Wish my neighbors would think before they dump!

When I see "Freecycling," I associate that with using a local Freecycle group (see http://www.freecycle.org/) to give items away.

As has already been mentioned, the policy in such groups is to award the offered item to a specific person - NOT to put it out on the curb for any random person to pick up.

While moving into my SF apartment , a neighbor was placing an apartment sized toaster oven and microwave on the sidewalk. I said, "why not ..." and grabbed them for my apartment. 1 year later, I set them right back out where I found them and less than 30 minutes later they were gone. It wasn't out of laziness necessarily - I KNEW they would be taken.

I live in the centre of St. John's (Capital City), Newfoundland,Canada. I have never labeled what I do but if I have something worth sharing, I put it out on my curb in a clean accessable box. It usually disappears within 2 hours. I have placed chairs, old bathroom vanity and sink, steel door, old bottles, wood ends from a construction project and a variety of household knick knacks. I also put out my recycling in clean see-through bags. There are a number of individuals who promptly collect and seem to appreciate the donations. Only once did vandals break up a Christmas table. If was then my responsibility to clean up the mess and dispose alternately. I have also grabbed freebies left on the curb. I don't think it's littering or lazy if you do it right.

I put out tons of stuff, and I pick up tons of stuff. Maybe it's just really popular in our neighborhood (Temescal, North Oakland), but I get and give great stuff. I think general rule is that unless it's really really nice, it's gotta be small enough to be carried by hand since it's all foot traffic that picks stuff up. (I.e., no ugly appliances/furniture) People will take almost anything, though!

where I live it is a fairly common practice; we live on a busy street; I have put furniture out that has been scooped up in only a few minutes. But there are a few basic rules-only viable objects (although you'd be surprised at what people take!); put it out within 24 hours of "trash night" and dispose of it properly if it isn't gone by then.

I use a combination of local Freecycle and placing items in an obvious location with a free sign. I have also held garage sales with $1.00 for most items and will give things away if I think a person can benefit. Kids books = free for a teacher, McDonalds toys = free box for kids to pick through @ 1/customer, etc. My main goal is for the item to go away carried by another person otherwise I have to haul it to the recycle center.

Arranging with one specific buyer is Freecycle policy, but I belong to two area groups, and both are famous for posts reading "Stuff at

It seems a bit lazy to me to leave it on the curb for days. Why not call Salvation Army or Goodwill? Or take the magazines to a local nursing home or to work for the office breakroom? For furniture, consider a local charity that assists domestic violence victims and procures temporary housing for them? Or call a local church and find out if there are any parishoners in need. After the fires in CA last year, I was able to give away some furniture I didn't want anymore to a family member of a friend who lost everything in the fire.

Just a little effort can ensure your items go to someone who truly needs it.

I have a two large shopping bags that all small things to donate go into. I drop off at Goodwill once per month. For larger items (e.g., furniture) I will set it beside the garbage dumpster at my apartment building. It's gone in hours.

ONE SUGGESTION - if you are getting rid of blankets, sheets, or towels, please consider your local animal shelter. They constantly need these (and many, many other items). Check their website. They usually have an in-kind donations wish list. (stepping off soapbox...)

Think about what will happen to items if you leave them on the curb.

For example, its very common for people to take JUST THE CUSHIONS off a free couch. Once that happens, no one wants the couch frame. So instead of providing a valuable couch for free, you're providing some cushions (not that valuable) and the burden of disposing of a couch frame.

Just use a little common sense.