Planning to join a free-recycling community? Here are some tips on how to get the most of your membership.
Make your first posting an offer of something you'd like to give away rather than something you want.
Post only items that are free, legal, and appropriate for all ages.
Be clear about the age, condition, and dimensions of items.
Post pictures if you can.
Limit posting personal information. Meet in a public place if you don't want people coming to your home.
Keep it brief. For example, there's no need to explain why you need something.
Don't be a no-show.
Make sure that any items you take are in good working order or that you will be able to fix them.
Plan how you will handle responses. One Freecycle member says she was deluged with 40 e-mail messages within five minutes
of posting an offer of two lawn mowers. (She put the names in a hat and drew the winner's name.)
