I love to recycle, not just putting cans in the bin each week for pickup but as a holistic approach to consumption. I am fascinated with the concept(s) of reusing old things, finding new and inventive ways to keep stuff out of the dumpster, or rescuing things already there. Our society churns through materials and energy like fire running down a trail of ignition powder; we leave a mess behind us. (Even more scary, what happens when we get to the end of that trail?) But I don't believe waste is the problem! It's the type of waste that is reason for concern. Every living thing on this planet makes waste: dead leaves, feces, uneaten food, etc. Does our planet does buckle under the weight of such wastefulness? No! It thrives on it, without that the biosphere would grind to a halt. As humans, and the stewards of our home, we desperately need to find ways to contribute to our world through our waste (more on this another day).
So you might be asking, "what does Craigslist have to do with sustainable consumption and natural cycles in the biosphere?" Great question.
Have you ever been doing a project and needed a few extra bricks, or a couple 2x4s then thought to your self "I'm sure someone out there has what I need and would probably like to get rid of it. But since I have no way of finding that person, I guess I'll drive to the store and shell out some money for what I need." OK, maybe I'm the only one who spends time being frustrated about things like that, but you get the idea. We'll Craigslist is the ultimate vehicle for connecting those that have stuff with those who need it. Instead of buying something new, and accepting all the uncessissary wastefulness that comes along with it: energy used to produce something that already exists, obserd amounts of wrapping/packaging, price premium, etc..., you can buy something used (or in some cases get it free!) for a fraction of the cost. Here is my list of top purchases/deals on craist list.
- Dining Room Table and Chairs: Paid $100 --- Retails at $249
- Fire Safe: Paid $15 --- Retails at $35
- Typewriter: Paid $5 --- Retails at $450
- Shopvac: Paid $20 --- Retails at $120
- Spade and flat edge shovels: Paid $0 --- Retails at $34
- Grill: Paid $40 --- Retails at $125
- Workshop Hardware Organizing Shelves: Paid: $15 --- Retails at $100
- Sewing Machine: Paid $15 --- Retails at $150
As you can see not only do I get to save the environment, I save a ton of money! What great purchases and deals have you gotten on Craigslist?
