Mike Morone's Page

Your organization

Give Your Stuff Away Day

Briefly describe your organization's products/services and the size of operations.

promotion of nation-wide giveaway event, called "Give Your Stuff Away Day", on May 15, 2010

Your website

http://giveyourstuffaway.com

What attracts you to the concept of zero waste?

I've always believed we should treat all our resources as scarce.

What is your organization doing to eliminate waste?

"Give Your Stuff Away Day" - the World's Largest Giveaway, May 15th
http://giveyourstuffaway.com/
A bright red toaster appeared in my house recently, a new purchase. I have no problem with the red toaster – it’s the old one that irks me. It’s stored on a shelf, taking up space – going to waste.

We also own lots of other stuff we never use. No big deal, but multiply this stuff by America and we’re talking millions of items, worth billions, just wasting away.

Wouldn’t it be cool if we could magically shift ownership of this stuff, in one weekend, all over America, with zero effort, at no cost?

Cool happens all over America (and beyond) on May 15, 2010. It’s called Give Your Stuff Away Day and it will work (almost) like magic, as long as you help promote the idea and follow procedures about acceptable / prohibited items.

Here are the details – on May 15, we bring to our curbs, items of value we no longer want. No trash, no recyclables, no illegal or dangerous items, no food, drugs, chemicals, or weapons of any kind. Just safe, solid, valuable items we would like to donate to others. At the same time, millions of people will be driving, riding, or walking around picking up free items. Instantly, the world’s largest giveaway – very cool.

You’ll feel good because you uncluttered a bit and helped a neighbor. Others will be happy obtaining some free items. Landfills will shrink a bit and the economy will spark up a tiny bit.

It’s not really magic – there will be a bit of a mess in some neighborhoods for awhile. And in the short run, refuse hauling expenses will increase (but will shrink in the long run). We’ll also experience some additional traffic. Think of Christmas – a wonderful time of year, but messy.

Speaking of special days, Give Your Stuff Away Day is similar to Halloween. Lots of people participating in small ways to help lots of others. Many logistics to manage in a small amount of time, but because we’re all aware of it, and because we recognize its value, it goes off without a hitch.

Give Your Stuff Away Day is not a government program. Let’s keep it citizen-based, and let the government solve bigger problems.

But let’s also be responsible by:
• informing our local municipalities of our intent to participate
• asking local governments for a waiver to ordinances that might prohibit this activity
• placing at our curbs only items that others could use
• retrieving items not picked up within a couple of days

Want to help?
• Forward this email to family and friends
• Write a small article or letter to the editor
• Contact your local government and let them know you want to participate
• Help sponsor Give Your Stuff Away Day

Have fun on May 15th, and stop by if you need a toaster.


Mike Morone
PO Box 21
North Chili, NY 14514
585 749-5107

Give Your Stuff Away Day
Saturday, May 15, 2010
http://giveyourstuffaway.com/

What motivated you to join ZeroWasteNEO.org?

Network with others

What do you need to learn to be able to take action towards Zero Waste?

prmotion of my event

Please describe your organization's waste reduction goals (i.e. zero waste by 2019).

I'd like to be instrumental in greatly reducing what goes into landfills