Access to excess!

The idea of using the internet as a free forum to pass on unwanted goods and save space in landfill isn’t a new one. The most well-known example in the UK is probably Freecycle.org, which has been successfully running here since 2003 and has a huge, vibrant supporter base. Freecycle groups are run by locally-based volunteer moderators, and there are almost 500 groups and more than 1,700,000 members already registered and swapping their unwanted items for free.

Specialist "swap-shops" are becoming increasingly common too. For literature lovers for example, readitswapit.co.uk and bookcrossing.com offer similar services, the latter encouraging its members to “set books free” by leaving pre-loved paperbacks in public locations and tracing their “new lives” online.

Now Leicester-based charity Konnect9 have adapted the idea with a charitable spin by launching a new service aimed at taking items such as unwanted toys, furniture, toiletries and books from UK businesses and redistributing them – to charities, charitable causes and local volunteer fundraising groups.

www.givingworldnline.com went live on 2nd December 2008 and works like this:

• A business with surplus stock advertises it on Giving World Online free.
• Charities or fundraisers register, search the database and receive it free of charge

“We live in a world of waste. An estimated £1.37 billion worth of goods are wasted by UK businesses every year,” explains Rama Bhalla, Giving World Online Director and founder of Konnect9. “We also live in a world of want. So why not use those mountains of surplus to plug the poverty gap – saving millions of tonnes of good stuff being dumped into landfill in the bargain? Why not hook up the supply with the demand?”

Rama and her sister, Sujata, got into recycling eight years ago when a friend bought a former print works. The building was packed with pallets of paper that the new owner didn’t want and was planning to dump them.
“It was of such good quality we decided it really shouldn’t be destroyed,” explains Rama.“So we got the paper cut and distributed it to children’s groups and voluntary organisations.That’s where the idea for Konnect9 came from. It all snowballed from there.”

Over 7 years the charity has redistributed almost £1.5 million worth of goods, saving 200 tonnes going to landfill, but found itself limited by warehouse space and the volume of collections and deliveries that could be made. Now the sisters are hoping that working online will help the charity to expand its reach.

“We want everybody to be aware of the scheme” says Rama. “Unnecessary waste is everywhere - where we all work and live. We are recycling by passing things on to the people who really need them. That’s not just good for the environment, it’s good for everybody.”

For more details on whether your charity or volunteer fundraising group would be eligible to register with givingworldonline, visit their website, contact Rama on 08458 333783 or email rama@givingworldonline.com