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Freecycle UK faces mass exodus following autonomy row

A dispute between US-based online reuse network Freecycle and its UK membership has led to a large proportion leaving and setting up their own rival network, called Freegle.

The Freecycle network was established in 2003 and enables local groups to set up online forums in which users can trade, advertise or locate unwanted household items rather than disposing of them.

Freegle claims that 141 local groups in the UK have moved within its collective umbrella
Freegle claims that 141 local groups in the UK have moved within its collective umbrella
These forums are promoted by a number of councils to help encourage reuse and currently have 1.7 million users in the UK – representing a quarter of the global network's entire membership.

However, Freegle claims that many UK members were unhappy over the amount of control Freecycle in America had over their own sites and about being barred from lending items to each other. In addition, it says some groups resented repeated calls from Freecycle for them to join a new website called myfreecycle.com and those that chose not to do so have claimed that they were “forcibly” moved over by the American organisation.

In total, 450 volunteers lobbied for greater autonomy for the UK network but were asked to leave the network. As a result, a large number of local groups and users – including former Freecycle UK director Neil Morris – formed their own online reuse network, called Freegle, at the start of September.

Mr Morris said: “The creation of Freegle was inevitable when dedicated Freecycle volunteers who simply asked for greater autonomy in the UK were asked to leave. This left us with no alternative but to set up an alternative for our members in the UK.

“In the end it has been the best possible outcome. The renewed enthusiasm our volunteers have will really boost the reuse of items, saving significant amounts from going into landfill,” he added.

The newly formed Freegle claims that 141 local groups – almost a third of former Freecycle groups and representing over 638,000 members – have moved to the new co-operative umbrella organisation, and it said “around one million” are expected to follow.

Although unable to give exact figures, Freecycle confirmed that a “good number” had moved across to Freegle.

Asked whether the formation of Freegle would affect councils who currently support Freecycle, Catherine Hollingsworth, communications officer at Freegle, told letsrecycle.com: “I don't think so because what we are offering is greater choice and now people can us Freecycle or Freegle or both. We always said it is not a competition, it is about keeping materials out of landfill, so the more people doing it the better.”

“If we have got a sponsorship deal with a council and they have produced posters with Freecycle on them and the group is now Freegle we may now go to them and ask them to change that. But I am sure it will offer greater choice, I mean, some people like Tesco and some people like Sainsbury's,” she added.

“Flexibility”

Freegle, which means ‘Free Giving, Locally, Easily' claimed it was unable to continue with the name Freecycle after becoming “disenfranchised” with the American organisation.

It also claimed that the formation of the new group would allow community groups to operate with “greater flexibility” than had been possible under Freecycle.

Ms Hollingsworth said: “[Freecycle] said no to borrowing and lending, but now groups will be able to say whether they want to do that and, as whole, it offers much more flexibility for our members, communities and partners. I think people just want to have greater autonomy and I think we are relishing the opportunity to run things ourselves.”

Echoing Freegle's sentiments, Freecycle claimed that there would be little effect on the current arrangements between Freecycle and local authorities.

Janice Hickman, director of Freecycle UK told letsrecycle.com: “New groups have been set up to replace the groups which have left and Freecycle will continue to nurture those groups. It is hoped that current relationships with local councils will continue.”

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