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TRADING treasures: Oliver Romain
Freecycle swap shop will help cut the cost to the environment
Rachel Leslie7/ 6/2006
ONE PERSON'S trash can be another's treasure following the launch of a new recycling scheme in Wilmslow.
Oliver Romain, 36, of Hawthorn Grove, has started Freecycle Wilmslow enabling members to offer unused goods to others and put in requests for any items they may need, which others no longer want.
It is a voluntary scheme, no money changes hands and it reduces landfill in the process.
Now a worldwide phenomena, Oliver heard about the concept through his wife.
He said: "My wife's friend got a bed and a washing machine through the network.
"It cost nothing as the items are things people just don't want to keep."
Initially out of curiosity, Oliver investigated further.
He added: "I believe in recycling and have strong views on waste management.
"I went onto the site, but I couldn't find anything in Wilmslow so I joined the nearest group which was Freecycle Nantwich and was amazed to see what was being offered."
Oliver subsequently obtained a 17 inch computer monitor and some breeze blocks for a garden project.
"Their cash value was low but it saved the items going to landfill so there was a positive environmental impact", he adds.
"In a way, it's the modern day equivalent of leaving an item outside your house with a 'free to good home' notice on it.
"But it also works the other way round: if you need something you can send a wanted notice to the members."
Freecycle started in Tucson, Arizona, three years ago to promote waste reduction and to save desert landscape from being taken over by landfill sites.
Workers in the recycling industry frequently saw perfectly good items being thrown away and found themselves calling charities to see if they could use them instead.
To facilitate the process, an e-mail group was set up to enable the local community to see what they could get and what they could give.
From these humble beginnings the concept has spread to over 50 countries and the founders estimate it keeps 50 tonnes of rubbish a day out of landfills.
Now Oliver hopes it will catch on closer to home.
He said: "I am sure the lack of a local tip means that many usable items end up in wheelie bins as people are very busy nowadays.
"There is a lot of complaining about waste in Wilmslow but little in the way of practical measures.
"Freecycle Wilmslow allows members to post offers and wanted notices for items, which should reduce landfill.
"The Nantwich group works really well with most items finding homes and it has 500 members, so I would like to aim for this amount in Wilmslow."
The only rule is that everything posted on the site must be free, legal and appropriate for all ages.
Oliver also stresses wanted items must be reasonable.
"It's not about personal enrichment but about getting away from the 'magpie' mentality and recycling items we don't use.
"I am under instruction to ban anyone asking for expensive items like a Ferrari or plasma TV.
"But it would be ok to ask for a working washing machine which may be languishing in a garage."
Oliver also adds it is not a replacement for charity shops.
"Somethings are not suitable for charity shops such as building materials and some electrical items for health and safety reasons."
Now Oliver is having to practice what he preaches.
"As a moderator [of the group] I have taken an oath to leave my old ways behind and clear out any unwanted items from my garage and cellars."
For more information about Freecycle Wilmslow visit www.freecycle.org.
Most recent 2 of 2 user comments
The group also has its own website join up free at www.wilmslowfreecycle.org.uk.
3/08/2006 at 13:32
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