In this age of going green, reducing energy use, recycling and reducing waste, do you wonder if you are doing enough? Pekin, Iowa resident, Dawn Bechtel, who was born, raised and is employed in Fairfield, wanted to do something more so she created a Fairfield Freecyle/Buycycle Facebook Page in September 2009 with the main goal of keeping as many items out of the landfills as possible. Today they have over 500 members listing items they are willing to give away for free (freecycle), items they are wanting to sell (buycycle) or items they are in need of and would like to find used instead of going out and paying for new (recycle).

The Page’s creator, Dawn Bechtel, describes her motivations and intent:

Ever since the day I read Danny Seo’s book Heaven on Earth – 15 minute miracles to change the world, I’ve wanted to implement them all and more. Our environment takes such good care of us and it is important that we show our appreciation and take even better care of our environment.

We don’t have trash or recycling pick up where we live so recycling is a must! Garage sales are a lot of work and not well attended in this area and we have some nice things that we no longer need and don’t want to just toss them in the trash! We’d like to see them find good homes. I’d heard several of my friends from other states talking about FREECYCLE and although I did a few Google searches I was unable to find one in our area. Frustrated, I decided to start one on FACEBOOK and see what happened.

It is my hope that every item posted will soon find a new home. That everyone living in and around Fairfield that has a FACEBOOK account will want to be an active member and those that don’t have a FACEBOOK account will be asking their friends that do, to list or find items for them.

Members have found new homes for toner cartridges, TV’s, microwaves, swing sets and more. Got some exercise equipment collecting dust in the corner? Several members of Fairfield Freecycle/Buycycle are interested.

In addition to posting items, the Fairfield Freecycle/Buycycle also promotes fundraising and recycling efforts currently going on in the community and other resources for recycling like The Bargain Box, My Lucky Day, Agapeland’s Closet and Chickadees. The Fairfield High school (FBLA) is asking for donations to recycle used consumer electronics, ink cartridges, and any unwanted, tangled or broken Metal Jewelry – you can find a complete list of items they are accepting on the site. Members can also find a complete list of the items that can be recycled at Waste management as well as any fees that might be associated with certain items

You know the old saying, “one person’s trash is another person’s treasure”, and that is definitely the case at the Fairfield Freecyle/Buycycle Facebook Page. Check it out and help keep as much out of the landfills as possible.