We've all heard of upcycling and recycling, but how many people have heard of freecycling?
Freecycling is all about giving stuff away that you no longer have a use for, but who someone else might. During the 80's there was a huge change as goods became cheaper, people began having greater disposable incomes, and subsequently more these goods became disposable, more and more everyday items ending up in landfill as people followed the latest trends and began 'upgrading' constantly, in no small part due to technology moving ever faster.
When I were a lad! If anything broke at home, my Dad would get out his tools and take it apart. If I'm honest he was rubbish. Many items, such as irons or washing machines would end up in the bin or at the tip in pieces, and the scent of solder would linger around the house for days. There would be an odd success. He fixed a kettle with a new element from the local electrical spares shop, and he was great at fixing toys. I remember him once whooping for joy and ringing half the village when a dry joint on the TV was found and re-soldererd. That was one time I truly hoped he wouldn't manage to fix it as I was desperately hoping for a new colour TV as the 1974 World cup approached. Football is more in fun in colour, but the old, now repaired black and white TV managed to remain for a couple more years until a tragic accident with a potted plant which sat on top of the TV 'accidentally' got over watered by a helpful young Nathen ;-)
Even then though, the super new replacement colour TV, with a remote on the end of a bit of wire wasn't bought. It was rented from the local TV rental shop which was a very common way of having a TV in those days. In its own way, this was a good way to both keep up with the technology and for there to be a use for the old TV, the old one went back to the shop and was re-rented to someone who perhaps couldnt afford to rent the latest model. Things were made to last longer.
Maybe because that's how I was brought up, but even today, I still do the same. I have a draw full of old tech. In pieces! which I couldnt fix, but it was fun taking it apart.
Having said all that, there is a still a lot of potential for repairing things, the old electrical spares shop has been replaced by e-bay, and burned fingers are a thing of the past as most things are plug in parts, and I think it's still a nice thing to let kids loose with a screwdriver and a pair of snips to have a look inside and fire up their inquisitve nature. Of course, these days technology is moving even faster, and things are more reliable meaning that very little actually breaks down.
But back to freecycling.
How much 'stuff' have we all got sitting around at home that we don't use or don't need ? I know I used to have loads. Books, electronics, my latest fads, CD's, assorted DIY stuff; is'nt it amazing how the ridiculous manufacturers of DIY knicks and knacks always put more than one in a packet thus leaving you with one as a spare!
Give it away! Join your local freecycling group, or if there isn't one in your area, start up your own. The whole idea is keep things out of landfill and give it someone who has a use for it. Saves time, saves money, what's not to like ?
The two main sites are https://www.freecycle.org and https://www.ilovefreegle.org
Join up today, it's like tinder for 'stuff'
Have a great weekend.