Laurel

Welcome and Guidelines

Dear Freecycle.org Member!

This Freecycle.org group is one of thousands of freecycle.org groups around the globe, created with the sole purpose of matching people who have things they need to get rid of with people who can use them. Our goal is to keep usable items out of landfill and to reduce waste. By using what we already have, we reduce consumerism, manufacture fewer goods, and lessen the impact on the earth. Another benefit is that it encourages us to get rid of clutter that we no longer need, and promotes community involvement in the process.

The following are the group guidelines/rules:

KEEP IT FREE, LEGAL & APPROPRIATE FOR ALL AGES. This means, for example:
        No alcohol, tobacco, firearms or other weapons, profanity or sexual content, medications (of any kind, including over-the-counter     supplements, vitamins, etc.);
        All copyrighted material must be the original media;
        In local groups that allow resale, full disclosure of intent to resell must be disclosed up front;
        No unregistered waste carriers [UK only].

NEVER send money for anything offered on Freecycle (R), this includes money for shipping/couriers. Report any requests for money to the moderators.

WANTED POSTS ARE TO BE USED SPARINGLY. Numerical limits on Wanted posts vary by local group.

NO POLITICS, NO SPAM, NO MONEY, NO PERSONAL ATTACKS/RUDENESS OR PROSELYTIZING.

NO SWAPS/TRADING PLEASE. Go to your local swap/trading organization for this. It can be quite fun.

NO PERSONAL ADS. Posting oneself or another person from the human species is not allowed. There are many fine Internet dating sites better suited to this purpose.

NO POSTS ABOUT ANIMALS FOR BREEDING OR FOOD PURPOSES. Beyond this, some groups do allow non-breeding-related posts to find new homes for pets, but ask that it be kept legal and lovingly careful. Other groups prefer not to allow pet postings.

BE NICE. A brief note on Freecycle etiquette: we are all volunteers and we've got a great little community here so when you arrange to pick up an item from another Freecycle member, it is basic good manners to accommodate them as much as possible in terms of scheduling, and then be punctual; they are, after all, giving you something you need and asking nothing in return except that you will show up when you say you will. Also, unless the giver tells you otherwise, assume that they would like you to come by as soon as you can to take away the item.

PICK UP. Arrange as you like. Generally, you'll wait until you get a handful of responses or maybe overnight, and then you can pick whomever you like! That's half the fun. Consider giving your starving local charity preference if one should respond. Arrange pickup with one person only, rather than "It's on the porch, whoever gets here first gets it." Otherwise you'll become unpopular pretty quickly with your fellow Freecycle group members. Also, only give your phone number to one person at a time or ask for the recipient's phone number. Otherwise you'll get swamped with phone calls.

DISCLAIMER. FREECYCLE(R) NETWORK MEMBERS USE THE LIST AT THEIR OWN RISK. Please take reasonable measures to protect your safety and privacy when posting to the list or participating in an exchange. By joining the list, you agree to hold neither the list owners, moderators nor anyone affiliated with Freecycle.org responsible or liable for any circumstance resulting from a Freecycle-related exchange or communication.

SAFETY. Be aware! It is up to each individual member of Freecycle when arranging for pickup of the item being given away to be appropriately aware of the potential risk of having "a stranger" come to your home to pick something up. Freecycle as an organization assumes no responsibility for this risk. If you, for example, are living alone, you may want to say that you'll leave the item on the front porch while you are not home or arrange for a drop-off at a public place.

For help with using the website, click the green floating circle with the question mark, usually found at the bottom of the website. Begin typing your query into the search box to get clickable results.

To contact the moderators, click the envelope icon top right of the website, and then click 'Contact Moderator'.

Good luck, have fun & thank you for keeping good stuff out of landfills!

Your Freecycle.org Moderation Team