Local options offer new opportunities for unwanted items

Bloomington residents are making proactive decisions to help better the health of the environment. \nWhether Bloomington residents want to get a new lamp for free, give away an old shower curtain or buy a cheap window, they have a couple of options for getting recycled goods. Freecycle.org and the Monroe County Habitat for Humanity ReStore both offer outlets for people to trade old items.\nFreecycle.org is a global organization that promotes free trading among local residents to stop excess waste. Bloomington is now a branch on the organization’s Web site. The site allows people to sign up for free and list anything they want to give away or wish to receive. It does not have to be something that falls into the typical recycling category, such as paper, plastic or aluminum.\n“I recently gave away a shower curtain,” said IU Health Center clinic nurse Marcey Tidwell, who moderates the Bloomington branch of the Web site. “The Web site helps keep things out of the waste stream, particularly in a college town where people are recycling in and out of the community all the time.”\nThe Bloomington section of the Web site lists almost 3,300 active members. A Web site member posts something he or she no longer wants, offering to give it away for free. A person can then pick out a listing, contact the person giving the item away and then arrange a meeting to pick the item up. \n“It’s sort of like a free eBay, but it’s using items that would normally get discarded and may end up in a landfill, but can now get reused,” said Steve Akers, Residential Programs and Services associate director of environmental operations. \nThe Web site started in 2003, but has slowly expanded to become a globally-recognized online organization. \nSophomore Melanie Frank said she can’t believe she’s never heard of the site.\n“It’s such a neat idea,” she said. “I’m really interested in checking it out.” \nTidwell said it’s a great place to check for furniture or other household items that many college students need to buy.\nHowever, if people cannot find what they want through Freecycle, a Bloomington business offers another environmentally-friendly option to residents at a low cost. Monroe County Habitat ReStore, 300 W. 11th St., works in conjunction with Habitat for Humanity. It accepts materials such as furniture, lighting and appliances that are in good condition, ReStore manager Sandi Clothier said. \n“We would definitely like to see more student business, but no one knows about us,” she said.\nAkers agrees ReStore is a great resource for Bloomington residents to utilize – especially students.\n“They sell things there for, like, pennies on the dollar,” he said. “It’s really amazing.”