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Presents for life not just for Christmas

With the Christmas stockings packed away and the last turkey sandwich eaten, Christmas is over for another year – and some of the present choices we made can start to look a little less appealing.

That snowman-patterned jumper was in hindsight a mistake and the slippers two sizes too small are unlikely to ever be worn. But where these gifts would once have been destined for a dark cupboard or even the bin, this year try Freecycling those unwanted gifts.

Freeycle is a free version of an auction website, where you upload details of your unwanted items and people who want them then get in touch for further details before collecting them. They get an item for free and you get something taken off your hands with minimal effort and no cost. Whatever your gift, there is likely to be someone out there who is looking for it.

Councillor Richard Parry-Hughes, chairperson of Waste Awareness Wales said:

"We all like to start the new year afresh, and at this time of year most people have a new-year sort out of gifts and items they no longer want. It is easy to assume that because we have no use for an item no-one else will either – but usually there is always someone out there who could use it. Using websites like Freecycle, or giving unwanted items to friends, family and charity shops prevents perfectly useable items from going to landfill, which not only takes up valuable space but also wastes all the resources that went into making these products. We can all do our bit to reduce the amount we throw away, and knowing your unwanted gift has gone to someone who really wants it helps make that festive feeling last a little bit longer."

Waste Awareness Wales’ guide to getting started on Freecycle (www.freecycle.org) 
 

• Search for your nearest ‘group’ by entering your town name – there is likely to be a group already set up. If not, follow the instructions to start a new one then get everyone you know to join.

• To use Freecycle you need to have a Yahoo account as the software runs using Yahoo Groups. If you have a Yahoo email account, enter your ID and you can join the group and get started! If not, you will be able to set one up.

• Once you’ve set up your ID and logged in you can read messages people have posted offering or wanting items and reply to them, as well as posting your unwanted items up there yourself.