Media information

What is Freegle?

Freegle provides a way to reduce waste and increase reuse/recycling of unwanted items. It is a national grassroots movement in the UK that uses the internet to advertise available items - all for free. It grew out of the USA-controlled Freecycle network in 2009.

Local groups in and around Norfolk are listed here.

Why should I be interested?

The whole system is free. Groups are run by local volunteers, and no money ever changes hands. This keeps everything simple, and means we are not reliant on continuing sponsorship or funding from any source.

Almost anything can be advertised on Freegle - the primary guidelines are that items should be free, and legal to own and pass on. In practice this means a wide variety of things are offered, and even items which might be considered complete junk could find a new home (e.g. half tins of paint, rags, broken wood).

People are enthusiastic about Freegle. Every piece of publicity we have ever had, local or national, however small, has brought us new members - people who are now throwing away less, and recycling/reusing more.

Freegle is a growing phenomenon in the UK. Over 280 groups and almost 1,150,000 members; over 50,000 of these are in Norfolk's seven groups (January 2011). That equates to around one in twenty of the population of Norfolk.

Freegle is true grassroots movement.Our groups are run by, and for, local people, and the Freegle organisation is democratic and inclusive.

Freegle is recognised and supported by local councils. For example, Norfolk County Council are supporting the new Freegle system with a grant of £2000, and gave us a Value From Waste award for 2005 (see photo), and South Norfolk Council regularly promote us in their Think Twice household recycling newsletter.

What sort of stuff has been passed on through Norfolk's Freegle groups?

• Appliances: washing machines, fridge/freezers, juicers, breadmakers, vacuum cleaners, blenders, cookers
• Baby items/kids' stuff: prams, carriers, toys, bikes, clothes, play equipment, washable nappies, bottle sterilisers
• Computing: basic PCs, printers, modems, monitors, keyboards, software, scanners
• DIY & gardening: tools, strimmers, mowers, sanders, tiles, paving slabs, paint, greenhouses, sheds, composters, top soil
• Furniture etc.: chairs, beds, desks, wardrobes, carpet, curtains, bathroom suites, kitchen cabinets, pianos
• Household: sewing machines, dinner services and crockery, cutlery, pots and pans, linen baskets, rotary washing lines, duvets
• Entertainment: DVD players, VCRs, TVs, hi-fis, CDs, DVDs, musical instruments, games consoles, jigsaws
• Crafts: sewing materials, drawing materials, fabric, paper, paint, craft kits, beads
• Miscellaneous: wedding dresses, Christmas decorations, language-learning materials, car maintenance ramps, bikes, wool carders, bubble wrap, boxes, scrap wood, cars, fish tanks, labels, paper, envelopes, books, magazines, clothes, disability equipment
• "Junk": bubble wrap, polystyrene packaging, cardboard boxes, half-full tins of paint, broken wooden items, fabric scraps, glass jars and bottles, used envelopes, carpet offcuts, old bedding and towels

This is by no means an exhaustive list! We have (as of January 2011) up to 500 items offered per week across the county, and well over half of those taken (that we know of) - the majority within a few days. Freegle works!

Who can join?

Anyone is welcome to sign up to their local Norfolk Freegle group. Most of our 50,000+ (and growing!) combined members are individuals, but we welcome local businesses, charities, schools, community groups - anyone who can help unwanted things find new homes rather than be thrown away. All we ask is that people make their intentions clear if they want an item other than for personal use.

What about people without internet access?

We use the web because it's the fastest and easiest way to put people in touch with each other and keep information up-to-date. Paper information simply isn't practical. However, local libraries offer free internet access, and we have no problem with people acting as proxy members for others (e.g. friends, relatives or neighbours) - our prime concern is to see items re-used and not sent to landfill, however that might happen.

Sounds great - I want more information!

Information on the Freegle movement can be found at iloveFreegle. Locally, please contact us in the first instance - we will be happy to answer your questions, and can put you in touch with local moderators, enthusiastic members of all kinds, and group moderators elsewhere in the country.

Last modified: 25th January 2011

Content Copyright © 2011 Norfolk Freegle Moderators