by Patte Smith

Go green, reduce, reuse, recycle, save the planet, hug a tree, waste not…want, not — these clichés, mottos and slogans are catchy, but truly actions speak louder than words. In Douglas County, residents have plenty of opportunity to put freecycling and recycling into action.

Freecycling is exactly what it sounds like; people give and get items for free in local areas around the country. Established about ten years ago, the Freecycle Network™ is made up of 4,834 groups with 7,341,000 members across the globe. It is a grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people that seek to reuse physical items to keep them out of landfills. Each local group is moderated by a local volunteer and membership is free.

The Castle Rock Freecycle Network™ was established in 2004 by Diana Curran, a former Castle Pines North resident who now lives in Castle Rock. “I had way too much stuff,” stated Curran, “so I contacted a friend of mine in Arizona, who happened to be the person who launched the Freecycle Network™. He helped me organize it here in Colorado. Now we have about 1,857 members.”

Curran has been featured in the Rocky Mountain News and interviewed by all the local television networks. “The word is getting out that so many usable items are available, especially for those people in need. Computers, printers, DVD players, furniture, clothing, the list of things goes on and on. Can you believe a car and an angora goat have been “freecycled,” laughs Curran.

She takes her volunteer job of overseeing the local freecycling program seriously. When a person fills out membership information online, it is Curran’s job, and several moderators who work with her, to make sure the details are complete and each and every posting is “family friendly.”

Realizing how many items are available and valuable to people, several of the freecycling networks in the local area did a drive for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. “We stored items in garages, houses and anywhere we could find to hold them, then we delivered all of it to the Red Cross. We collected a lot of usable things.”

In 2006, the Freecycle Network™ was granted 501(c)3 status, which means residents who give away items on freecycle may claim a fair market value tax deduction. It is a great way to get rid of “stuff” and keep it out of landfills.

To join the Castle Rock Freecycle Network™ log on to www.freecycle.org, type in Castle Rock, Colorado. Remember, membership is free so join others in keeping usable items out of landfills.

Residents who are interested in local recycling and reuse information can go to www.douglas.co.us and type in Recycle, Reuse Resource Guide. It is a comprehensive A-Z guide that is compiled to benefit Douglas County residents and is maintained by the Partnership of Douglas County governments’ Green Partners committee. The organizations and information in the guide can change so be sure to check it often to see up-to-date information.

Additional recycling information can be found at www.planetgreen.com.