Free green exchange, online

Wed, May 7 01:05 AM

Free recycling, or freecycling as it is popularly called, attempts to keep usable solid waste- everything from unwanted furniture to electronic equipment - from being disposed off in landfills. Through online communities, members can give away items they no longer need or get those they want for free.

According to Yahoo, 'freecycle' was the third most popular environment-related search term on its website last year. India has been a part of this green brigade for a while now, with Delhi and Gurgaon having their own startup groups.

Sadly, they have seen abysmally low membership figures. Hence, on April 22, the Earth Day, the Delhi arm of freecycle.

org (one of the more popular freecycle groups online) pledged to re-launch their efforts. Begun by 25-year-old Saurabh Garg in 2006, the group has a membership of 219.

Says Govind Singh, a student at the School of Environmental Studies, University of Delhi, and the group's present moderator, "By the end of this year, we want that at least 50% of Delhi's population should know about it." Abhay Chawla, moderator of the Gurgaon arm of freecycle.

org, plans to increase awareness through mailers and word-of-mouth. His group has 132 members.

With both the virtual and real worlds as potential avenues, and attempts on to get more people to embrace it, the future of freecycling only seems optimistic.

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