--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Bhairitu <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: <snip> > If you put stuff on the sidewalk for free it usually justs > sits there until the cops come along and tell you to move it. > I know my neighbors tried that and it didn't work. I often see > people putting out old computers and monitors for free trying to > avoid the $25 charge per unit for disposal. Even throwing AAA > batteries in the garbage can get you a prison sentence. <snip> > I had a couple bags of clothes to give away and there is a > Goodwill van at the top of the hill. Problem is the van is > usually full and the attendant (who is there so people don't > just leave stuff outside anyway) has no idea when an empty > one will show up.
This won't help with dead batteries or anything else that's completely unusable, but there's a growing movement called "freecycling" or "freesharing" via the Web; Yahoo has a bunch of local groups where you can post about something you no longer need and somebody who wants it can contact you privately and make arrangements to come pick it up. I've gotten rid of a bunch of stuff I didn't need that way (and it was lovely to meet the folks who took it). The whole idea is to avoid putting more stuff into the landfills and dumps, and give items that are still useful a second life. One guy regularly responds to posts for used computer equipment of all kinds; he picks it up, refurbishes it, and donates it to schools and senior centers. Most groups have policies in place to foil resellers who try to get in on the action. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freecycling http://www.freecycle.org/ http://www.freesharing.org/ http://freesharing.org/sites_like_us.php There are also usually thrift shops and other charities that will accept used clothing in decent shape. You have to watch out for these, though, because some of them bundle it up and sell it in bulk to entrepreneurs who send it overseas to be sold, where it sometimes cripples the local clothing industries. So be sure you give it to a place that's going to sell it or give it away locally. Most places will give you a receipt for tax purposes.
