Sevenoaks rejects Freecycle, switches to Freegle

If you’re a regular recycler, upcycler or lover of a freebie, chances are you’ve used Freecycle. It’s a brilliant concept: local people swapping unwanted items for free.

Unfortunately, the organisation that owns the ‘Freecycle’ name, haven’t always made it a happy experience for those running local Freecycle groups.

Today, members of the Sevenoaks Freecycle Group received notification from the local moderation team that they had switched allegiance to Freegle (Free, Giving Locally, Easily). They explained, diplomatically:

“Whilst Freecycle is a really good idea, groups in the UK have been compelled to work with a system that was devised in and for the USA. Representatives of the UK groups had been trying to negotiate with The Freecycle Network (TFN) in the USA for over two years to try to get the freedom to run things in a way more suited to the UK and our laws. TFN would not be persuaded.”

Because of this shift to Freegle, the group can no longer use the name Freecycle, nor the associated email addresses.

If you are a Freecycle member, you should soon receive notification of the new web address and email address for posting wanted/offered messages. We will also keep you informed here, in case you want to join the new group.

For more on Freegle, see www.ilovefreegle.com.