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Buy Nothing Project Tennis rackets, bed risers, golf clubs, old holiday decorations…you know all those things in the back of your closet that you have been meaning to use or get rid of, but have not been able to? You are not alone. In the age of mass and fast production of goods, we are constantly consuming, which makes it harder to relieve ourselves of so many things. The reasons for keeping certain objects vary from person to person, but ultimately, most do not want to throw away things that have brought them joy in the past or they believe that they should try to at least resell their things in order to not lose the money they originally put in. According to the Buy Nothing Project’s website, in July 2013, two women, Liesl Clark and Rebecca Rockefeller, noticed that their area in Bainbridge Island was becoming increasingly more polluted by all differently-sized plastics. This spoilage of nature was a concern for both of them and they wanted to create a local initiative that would help not only clean up their beaches by organizing a group to do so, but also minimize the usage of single-use plastics and find another way to recycle and repurpose other plastics and things. They organized weekly barter events in their local parks, which grew and grew - so much so that they were obliged to find broader solutions on the internet via Facebook Groups in order to expand the exchange/barter community. This led to the creation of dozens into hundreds of local Buy Nothing (“BN”) Project Groups on Facebook. The BN’s mission is “to build community by connecting people through hyperlocal gifting, and reducing our impact on the environment.” This means that you can gift, receive or even lend something for free. There is no exchange of monies in any transaction as this would go against the group’s few rules. The groups exist in some 16 languages worldwide, in 44 countries, with more than three million individual participants. You can join and start participating in your local BN group by searching for BN and your city or downloading the application that has become available since May 2021. Engaging in your local BN group will not only help you understand and learn more about your local community, but you would also be cutting down your costs all while fostering a more sustainable form of consumption that is actually better for the planet.
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