Wednesday 15 May 2013

What do you do with "stuff" you no longer have a need for?

That's a good question.
Yesterday, the city council delivered their "calendars" for bin collections in the coming 12 months. Along with this they delivered a leaflet for "Bulky Matters".  This used to be a free service run by the council whereby household items that householders had replaced by newer items could be collected, refurbished and then sold on to the less well off for a fraction of the price of a new item.  However the purchaser would know that the item was as good as new.  They ow also take electrical items and PAT test them, and again sell them on for a fraction of the cost.
A worthy cause you might think....
BUT....this collection service used to be FREE.  I know as when I replaced my table with a better one, they took away my old but perfectly serviceable drop leaf table.  I remember clearly that there was no charge, and at the time was happy that someone would be able to have a table for a low price.
The leaflet delivered yesterday said that there is a collection charge of £18 now, for up to 3 items and then an additional charge for each item above three!  That means you are paying for the privilege of having your item removed, and they will be profiting a second time when they sell it on.  If you are rolling in money, I don't suppose you would care too much, but let's face it, in the current financial climate there aren't many who are.
So what is the point of this post?  You might well ask.
My point is, these days most people can access the Internet at some place or other, and there is a website called Freegle, (used to be Freecycle,) on this site you can post items you no longer need, and for items you might want.  If you know the item is sound advertising it through this medium means it finds a home where it will be needed, and the person who wants the item collects from the person giving it away usually.
I know which service I will be using in the future if, or when I have items that are still good and no longer require.
I have found new homes for several items and have also found some items I required. 
Which would you use?  The council one, at a cost now, or the free one?

3 comments:

Blue said...

Hopefully if more people use Freegle/Freecycle then the Council will see the error of their ways and stop charging people for pick up. It's silly.

David Oliver said...

Most people around here have little buildings out behind their house that were originally built to store things that shouldn't be stored inside the home. My guess is that about 99 out of 100, including mine, actually contains mostly stuff people no longer use.

My brother said he had a 10 year plan for things no longer needed. Store it in the out building for 10 years and then haul it to the dump.

Freegle/Freecycle sure sounds like a better plan.

hoai2311 said...

Nice discussion here,you are doing a great job. i was looking for this information. i found it on your page it's really amazing. I like that information.
home care services