Introduction

Here's the basic information you need to know about Freecycle.

What is Freecycle?

Freecycle aims to keep items out of landfills by providing an internet listings service to help people give unwanted items to someone else for free in their own community. Keeping stuff out of landfills helps build a sustainable future, is good for the environment and builds local and world communities.

Freecycle (officially known as The Freecycle Network) is made up of thousands of groups with millions of members across the globe. It's a grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving and getting stuff for free. Freecycle groups operate in specific towns or areas - so it's local as well as global.

How did it start?

Freecycle was started by Deron Beal in the USA in May 2003 and the first UK group was set up in October of that year. The worldwide membership is now over 9 million in more than 110 countries.

For more about the history of Freecycle, read a bit about how our grassroots organization grew from one to many!

What does it do?

It's simple: Freecycle keeps physical items out of landfills via no-strings-attached gifts.

Who runs it?

Freecycle is run by volunteers and day-to-day decision making is made by grassroots local groups, encouraging local members to use their group sensibly and safely. Each group is run by a team of Moderators who check messages and help members. These are volunteers who give up time to help run groups - they're not paid.

Group moderators consult with other groups at a regional and national level with other support structures available nationally and internationally. Freecycle rules and guidelines are agreed to globally via national moderator groups.

Where are the groups?

The Freecycle Network consists of groups all over the world. Click on the map to find a group near you.

Only some non-English speaking Freecycle groups still use Yahoo! Groups but most groups switched over to Freecycle.org after January 2009.

This website can be found here: Freecycle.org.

What kind of things are on it?

Anything that is free, legal and appropriate for all ages. Examples include: washing machines, computers, baby clothes, jam-jars, carpet, plants, building supplies, etc…

Is it just about giving things away?

No, you can ask for things too. To work, Freecycle needs both OFFERs and WANTEDs.

Is there anything which isn't suitable?

• No pornography
• No alcohol
• No tobacco
• No drugs (of any kind, including all medicines, vitamins, creams, etc.)
• No firearms or other weapons

Does it cost anything?

No, it's absolutely free. It's free to join, it's free to post messages, and everything offered on Freecycle must be free as well.

So how is it funded?

As a nonprofit, we are fortunate to have volunteer moderators who keep the local groups running smoothly. Beyond this, we receive grants, underwriting, royalties and donations from the public at large. Our latest financials can be found https://www.freecycle.org/about/funds here].

What do the funds pay for?

The Freecycle Network's current annual budget is running at about $140,000 in income. The funding comes from corporate underwriting, on-site advertising (in the form of a Google sponsor bar), grants and individual donations. Approximately 90% of these funds are used directly for program expenses. The remaining 10% is split evenly between membership, fund-raising and other administrative expenses. Our IRS 990s are posted at the hotlink below as well as on Guidestar.com. We are delighted to report that we received our 501(c)3 status from the IRS (11/06) and that donations to The Freecycle Network are tax-deductible! We likewise are a charity in the UK. Further, we are registered as a nonprofit corporation in the State of Arizona. Tax deduct-ability is retroactive to our application date in July of 2004.

Our expenses of about $130,000 are mainly in the paying of four individuals and the maintenance of our current website and design of the new community. These individuals include the executive director, two contractors responsible for the current web community and one contractor for the new website design project. We have several servers to this end, coding expense and related site-design expenses. We also are incurring substantial legal expense, primarily in defending our trademark.

Our model is much like that of PBS. We seek to provide a free public forum for our members, and seek grants, underwriting and voluntary donations to fund these efforts. It's a rather unique model for a website, but The Freecycle Network is a unique organization. As we further develop community reuse and recycling on a globally local scale in over 70 countries we are creating a global gift economy in the process. Simply beautiful how one can change the world, one gift at a time.

IRS 990s

What's Freecycle UK's Legal Status?

See Legal Status.

Are all groups the same?

There are some basic rules and guidelines which are agreed to by all local groups. The main rule is that everything must be free, legal and appropriate for all ages with an emphasis on being nice, keeping safe and building a sustainable local and world community.

In addition to the basic required guidelines for all groups, each local Freecycle group may have some additional guidelines (example: the posting of pets or services rather than items). Group moderators will typically consult or poll members about proposed rule changes.

Ok, how do I sign up?

See How To Sign Up.

Now how do I use it?

See How To Use Freecycle

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