Freegle

Freegle

Freegle is a grassroots gift economy network where people post items they no longer need and others can request them, all for free. The aim is to reduce waste by reuse and recycling.
Freegle image
free reuse recycle gift economy grassroots

Freegle: A Grassroots Gift Economy Network

A platform where people share items they no longer need, reducing waste through reuse and recycling

What is Freegle?

Freegle is an online community network that allows people to give away unwanted household items to others for free. It helps cut down on landfill waste by promoting reuse and recycling of goods.

On Freegle, members can post photos and descriptions of items they want to give away, such as furniture, appliances, electronics, toys, books, and more. Other members in the local community can then request the items they are interested in.

Once a request is made, the giver and receiver arrange a time for pickup so the item can be collected for free. The platform operates through local groups moderated by volunteers, creating gift economies that build relationships and reduce consumerism.

The Freegle network got its start in the UK in 2009 and has since expanded to over 4 million members across 5 countries. The community helps divert over 20 tons of items from landfills every day. Its model of reuse over recycling or dumping perfectly fits the growing sharing economy.

Freegle Features

Features

  1. Allows users to give away unwanted items for free
  2. Users can browse listings of available items in their local area
  3. Items are organized by category to make browsing easier
  4. Users can request specific items they are looking for
  5. Volunteer moderators review posts and manage local groups

Pricing

  • Free

Pros

Promotes reuse and recycling

Free for all users

Connects local communities

Saves usable items from landfills

Reduces need to produce new items

Cons

Limited to local areas only

Relies on items that others no longer want

No ability to directly buy items

Quality of items not guaranteed

Requires coordination for pickup/dropoff


The Best Freegle Alternatives

Top Home & Family and Reuse & Recycling and other similar apps like Freegle


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