The cycle of life, or should we say recycle of life, is a lot easier than you think. Just because you have no use for that ten-year-old sofa or the dresser with the sticky drawer, doesn't mean someone somewhere can't use it. But, like most of us it's just so much easier taking these items to Tynes Bay and any idea of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle goes right out the window.

Every week dozens of useful items are dumped at the incinerator when they could just as easily have found a new home through a local network called Freecycle (www.freecycle.bm).

Started two years ago by Vanessa Cooper, Freecycle has slowly built up a following of close to 60 environmentally conscious individuals who scour the website weekly in search of a treasure. And the best part — it's FREE!

There are few people who haven't accumulated unwanted items over the years — everything from partial dinner sets, picture frames, baby paraphernalia and toys to lawn furniture and tools — things that the owners simply don't have the time, or patience to sell.

There's always the idea that you'll get to it "some day", or that even though you can't stand the ghoulish china ornament your aunt Ruth gave you, you can't bring yourself to throw it out. Then, of course, there's the question of the time it takes to have a yard sale, or cart the items to charities like The Barn or Salvation Army.

Wouldn't it be nice if someone else would come and collect the junk that's clogging up your garage?

"That's what Freecycle is all about," says Ms Cooper. "And you'll be surprised at just what some people are prepared to take off your hands".

She recalls bizarre requests from a primary school art teacher wanting bits and pieces of what some would consider "junk" for his classes. Recycled art so to speak, but still Reduce, Reuse, Recycle in action!

"The best things in life are free," she adds with a chuckle, "and Freecycle is completely free. There is no money changing hands, it's just an opportunity for someone to advertise something they no longer want and chances are, someone will be prepared to take it off your hands."

By signing up at www.freecycle.bm you have the opportunity to list items you want to get rid of, but which are still usable: "Sometimes they don't even have to be in working condition. Broken computers, broken furniture, are all things that someone can use for parts and they're always in demand.

"It doesn't cost anything to join or list items on Freecycle. In fact, there is no money involved at all. The items must be given away for free to whoever can come and collect them from any location chosen by the owner."

While living in the UK, Ms Cooper had long been a participating member in Freecycle Network, which she discovered was an easy and convenient way to rid herself of unwanted items.

In fact after a bad traffic accident a few years ago, Ms Cooper needed a cheap piano to help her with physiotherapy. She found one on Freecycle and when she returned to Bermuda, the antique piano went back the way it had come when a Freecycle member came and carted it off.

She would like to see more people join the Bermuda Freecycle movement, but because the organisation is non-profit, they have no money to advertise so they depend on word of mouth.

"It's been slow," she admits, but continues to believe that it's the best option for Bermuda with its high turnover of guest workers.

"If you are going to be coming here for a yearlong contract, are you really going to want to spend a lot of money buying kitchen utensils, and things like that?" she asks.

Of course groups like Freecycle do work best with lots of members and with only a dozen or so locally, there are periods of activity and periods of quiet.

"If someone is offering something, the more people we have in the group, the more people know about it and the more likely you will be to find someone to take it," she elaborates.

In the run-up to Christmas, Ms Cooper is hoping more people will do some much-needed spring-cleaning and sign up with Freecycle to list their items. You never know... one man's junk could turn out to be another man's treasure!