The Freecycle Network facts for kids
The Freecycle Network logo
|
|
| Abbreviation | TFN |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1 May 2003 |
| Legal status | 501(c)3 |
| Purpose | Reuse |
|
Region served
|
121 countries |
|
Membership
|
6,880,991 |
|
Founder, executive director
|
Deron Beal |
| Website | www.freecycle.org |
The Freecycle Network (TFN) is a special group that helps people give away things they don't need anymore for free. It's a nonprofit organization that works to keep useful items out of landfills. Think of it as a giant online community where people can offer or ask for items without buying or selling them. This helps the environment by encouraging reuse and sharing.
How Freecycle Started
The Freecycle Network began in Tucson, Arizona, USA, in May 2003. A person named Deron Beal started it. He worked with a small group that helped with recycling. They wanted to find ways for local charities to use items that people no longer needed.
When that didn't work out perfectly, Deron Beal came up with the idea of an email list. This list let people online connect and offer items for free. This simple idea quickly grew! By February 2005, the network even received some funding to help build its website.
Over time, this idea spread all around the world. Freecycle groups popped up in over 110 countries. Millions of people joined to give and get free items.
How Freecycle Works
Freecycle started as many small groups on a website called Yahoo! Groups. But it soon moved to its own website, freecycle.org. This website helps all the groups connect. Local volunteers manage these groups.
The Freecycle Network encourages new groups to form. These new groups need to be approved. Once approved, they can use the Freecycle name and logo. They also follow rules that help keep everything fair and organized. These rules are managed by volunteers around the world. Since 2015, all local Freecycle groups are listed on freecycle.org.
Joining Freecycle
It costs absolutely nothing to join Freecycle. Anyone can become a member! The most important rule is that everything offered on the website must be completely free. Also, items must be legal and suitable for all ages.
The Freecycle Network is a huge global organization. It has over 4,000 local groups. By February 2014, there were almost 7 million members across more than 5,000 groups worldwide. As of December 2023, The Freecycle Network had over 11 million members in more than 5,300 groups around the world. This shows how many people want to help the planet by reusing things!
See also
In Spanish: Freecycle para niños
