Welcome to the Buy Nothing Project
A 10-minute solution to giving away things you don't need and getting free things you want.
We are in a stuff crisis. About two-thirds of our spending (65%) goes to discretionary spending, i.e. wants or non-essentials. We also contribute an average of 2,950 kg each year per person to landfill.
Where we can, we want to reduce bringing in excess that will just end up smooshed between junk, forgotten, reeking, and slowly decomposing… or not, in the case of plastics.
In a previous post, I talked about how reducing our stuff is one of the core actions we can take as climate activists. When we do get stuff, it should ideally be secondhand or locally made and resourced. That means op shops, eBay or Gumtree’s secondhand platforms, local markets, and thrift shops. Shopping in these places taps you into an amazing community of people who are working to waste less, which can naturally lead to more mindful shopping. It’ll save you lots of money, too, which is a great perk!
Join your local Buy Nothing Group
One of my favourite grassroots movements is the Buy Nothing Project. This is a gift giving network where you can give away items you no longer want (usually, the custom is to leave things on your front porch for collection, which means you don’t even need to leave your house to participate – score!). You can also put your hand up to receive items that other people in your neighbourhood are giving away. And the best part? It’s all free. No money changes hands. I’ve also found it’s a powerful way to feel more rooted and connected to the people in your town or suburb.
In my years as part of my local BNP group, I’ve given away bicycles, a Bamix, jewellery, plants, and much else besides. I’ve received furniture, books, an electric blanket, home wares, and too much else to name. I’ve also felt inspired to be more creative, kind, and community minded.
Here’s how you can get involved.
The action: Log into Facebook and search for Buy Nothing [my suburb]. When you find yours, request to join the group. Alternatively, you can download the Buy Nothing app from the app store (although I find it’s not quite as active as the Facebook groups). That’s it!
Estimated time: 10 minutes
What else you need to know: There are some guidelines and rules about how to participate in a Buy Nothing Group. These are listed on your Buy Nothing’s Facebook group page under ‘About’. You can also find them listed on their website.