Anyone for a giant cutout Gandalf?

Clayre Grice with the life-sized Gandalf she obtained through Norfolk Freecycle.

20 April 2006 10:09

An innovative online trading network which cuts down on landfill by encouraging people to exchange goods for free has taken the county by storm.

This time last year the Evening News revealed how Norfolk Freecycle had about 400 members swapping odds and ends that would otherwise have ended up in landfill.

Now the scheme boasts 3,225 members all looking for a good deal while doing something to help the environment.

Michelle Jermy, who introduced the volunteer-run scheme to Norfolk in September 2004, said she had not expected the scheme to take off so quickly.

“I'm absolutely gob-smacked,” said the 29-year-old from Thorpe Hamlet, who is currently taking a backseat role in the scheme after giving birth to her and husband John's second son, Ben, six weeks ago.

“It shows that people are trying to do their bit for the environment and are a lot more aware that landfill sites are filling up.

“I think they are finding that Freecycle's a really great thing to be involved with and has a very good feel-good factor about it.”

Under the scheme, members have access to an email list and online bulletin board where unwanted items are advertised by their owners.

If anyone sees something they fancy they get in touch with the owner and arrange a time to collect it. Members can also advertise for wanted items.

Freecycle was founded by Deron Beal in Arizona, USA, three years ago and has grown rapidly with an estimated membership of more than two million members worldwide.

The scheme is capitalising on its success in Norfolk by dividing into districts to reduce long distance transport of goods.

South Norfolk and Breckland are among those that have already got their system up and running with Broadland and Great Yarmouth due to go online soon. Once all districts have their own networks established Norfolk Freecycle will become the Norwich branch and cover that area only.

The need to avoid creating rubbish has stepped up a gear in Norfolk recently, given all the controversy surrounding plans to build an incinerator at Costessey.

Norfolk County Council is facing escalating costs for overuse of landfill and sees incineration as the best solution, despite health and environmental warnings.

If it gets the go-ahead the £90 million plant at the Longwater Industrial Estate in Costessey could be up and running before the end of the decade.

Katy Appleton, who was one of the first people to join the network in Norfolk and has since become involved in running the service, said: “It's really starting to enter people's consciousness,” said the 30-year-old UEA researcher from Eaton. “It's being seen as less of a quirky internet thing and more of an everyday thing, which is great as far as we are concerned.”

Some of the more unusual things to change hands on Freecycle in Norfolk include:

One fully operational fruit machine

A life-size cut out of Gandalf from Lord of the Rings

A number of cars

A piano

A hospital hoist

Pianola rolls



To find out more about the scheme or to get involved in running it, visit http://uk.freecycle.org/groups/norfolk

If you know of any innovative recycling schemes call Hugh Bowring on (01603) 772447 or email him on hugh.bowring@archant.co.uk

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