Freecycling Beyond Recycling
by Sheila Buff

Whenever your sort out the recyclables from your trash, you're doing your part to reduce solid waste and conserve resources. Recycling is an easy, inexpensive way to contribute to a cleaner environment. But now it's time to take the next step. In addition to recycling, consider freecycling.

What Is Freecycling?
Freecycling is the free exchange of items among individuals in a community, organized through an e-mail network. Based on the principle that one person's trash is definitely another's treasure, freecycling lets people come together on line to give away things they don't need any more or to ask for things they do. It's a great way to clear out accumulated possessions that are still perfectly good but no longer of use to you. There's only one rule: All items must be free.

Freecycling in the Hudson Valley
When Milan residents Nancy Castleman and Marc Eisenson first learned about the freecycling concept, they were instantly intrigued. As the authors of several books on living better on less (see sidebar), and as strong advocates for recycling and environmental issues, they saw freecycling as an ideal combination of the two. As Nancy explains, "When we learned that there wasn't a network in the Hudson Valley, we started one. We began the Hudson Valley Freecycle Network in March, and it grew to over 350 members in just two months. Our members are located all over the Hudson Valley, ranging from Hopewell to Tannersville. Was she surprised by the immediate success? "Not really. So many people in this area have been working on recycling issues for so long that I thought people would just flock to it — and they did."

The Hudson Valley Freecycle Network is modeled on a program launched in May, 2003, by Rise, a nonprofit recycling organization based in Tucson, Arizona. Since then, the Freecycle Network has expanded very rapidly. As of mid-May, there are 446 networks and over 66,000 people freecycling. Anyone, including nonprofit organizations, can participate.

What sort of items are offered and asked for on the Hudson Valley Freecycle Network? Says Nancy Castleman, "Basically anything and everything. Stuff for kids is very popular, but freecyclers have offered free computers and office equipment, furniture, kitchen appliances, sewing machines, pianos — even a pet rat snake. As a general rule, the item goes to the first person who asks, and the person taking the item is responsible for picking it up." The only limit on what can be offered and asked for is that the items must be free, legal, and appropriate for all ages.

Joining the Hudson Valley Freecycle Network is easy and free. Simply send an e-mail message to HudsonValleyFreecycle-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. You'll be put on the list and start receiving the e-mail messages within a few days. You can learn more about the worldwide Freecycle Network at www.freecycle.org.

Twenty Years of Good Advice

Twenty years ago, Mark Eisenson and Nancy Castleman put together a 20-page booklet called "A Banker's Secret." This short publication explained the basics of mortgage prepayment: adding just a small extra amount to each monthly mortgage payment to save many thousands of dollars over the long run. The booklet was an instant success — it later became a full-length book — and led to the birth of Good Advice Press. Dedicated to helping people save money, get out of debt, and live better on less, Good Advice Press now offers several excellent books filled with useful financial and lifestyle tips. They also offer a free online newsletter called The Pocket Change Investor. The newsletter articles are filled with solid advice for improving your personal finances based on small, simple, realistic steps. Mark and Nancy also offer personal consulting to help solve lifestyle and financial problems. Their goal is always to offer practical tactics for simplifying your life without feeling deprived. More information about The Pocket Change Investor and Good Advice Press can be found at www.goodadvicepress.com, or call 845 758 1400.