From BZ/dpa
We produce too much rubbish – often including things that could be used in another household. Here are ideas on how to give away old things without stress.
Not everything for which you no longer have any use is garbage. Another person may need the good piece urgently or just enjoy it. So why not just give away clothes, toys, electronics, household goods or odds and ends? Flea markets and numerous platforms are ideal for giving away or exchanging things.
The gift box at the flea market
“You can see at least one box at the stands at flea markets that says “for free”, says trend scout Gabriela Kaiser from Landsberg. “Sometimes you think, I’m sure I won’t get this part for sale, but it’s also a shame to throw it away.” So put it in the free box.
Swap locations at the recycling center
Anyone not planning to visit a flea market in the near future has alternatives. For example local recycling centers. There, too, there are in some places boxes, shelves or tables for storing products that you want to pass on without payment. Or you ask whether something like this can be set up.
On the other hand, gift boxes are problematic, as they often stand out on sidewalks and house entrances, especially in big cities. What you sort out at home is quickly packed in a box and placed in front of the door – for passers-by to take away.
Sometimes this creates more rubbish than already, because the boxes are torn open and the objects thrown around. You land in the rain or snow.
Gift closets in the neighborhood
An association in the city of Leipzig reacted to this and opened a free shop to hand in and browse through such boxes. In Hamburg-Altona, a school initiative built weatherproof stands as exchange boxes.
And anyway, if you want to pass on books: there are bookcases in many municipalities throughout Germany. For example, look out for old, disused roadside telephone boxes that have been painted on.
If you want to set up a free corner yourself, in many cases you need a permit, according to the German Association for the Environment and Nature Conservation (BUND).
However, if the place is maintained and does not disturb, there is usually no anger to be expected from neighbors or the public order office. The sustainability experts advise clearly marking the place and using a sign to inform you that you will, of course, professionally dispose of anything left behind.