Cluttered, chaotic, crammed and clogged.

There can be few homes, garages or gardens on the Island for which these adjectives are inappropriate. Of course, everyone has been ?meaning? to do something about the accumulation of unwanted items ? everything from china ornaments to partial dinner sets, picture frames, politely hoarded but ghastly gifts, linen, toys, suitcases, even lawn furniture and tools ? but time keeps passing, always with the promise that something will be done ?some day?.

Then there are the guest residents and workers who, for a variety of reasons, find themselves having to leave the Island on short notice with no time or desire to arrange shipment, take things to the charity shops, or hold a garage sale.

The common thread linking all of these accumulators of unwanted possessions is an underlying feeling that the items are far too good or useful to simply consign to the garbage; that ?one man?s junk is another man?s treasure?; and they should be recycled to good homes or causes. It is making the time and effort that appear to be the stumbling block.

For all the procrastinators, hoarders and transients bound by this thread, Vanessa Cooper has come up with a brand new avenue to translate the adage, ?The best things in life are free? into reality at the press of a few computer keys.

Thanks to her groundwork, Bermuda has now joined the worldwide group Freecycle Network, which is dedicated to recycling. (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bermudafreecycle/)

?The basic idea is that people can join the Bermuda site and list items that they want to get rid of, but which are still usable,? Mrs. Cooper says. ?It doesn?t cost anything to join or list items. In fact, there is no money involved at all. The items must be given away for free to whoever can come and collect them from any location chosen by the owner.? (For how it works, see separate story on page 35).

Back in her native England, Mrs. Cooper had long been a participant in Freecycle Network, which she discovered was an easy and convenient way to rid herself of unwanted items, and also help her favourite charities. She also liked the anonymity which the strictly e-mail process afforded, plus the ability to select the person or organisation she wanted to receive her goods from among the numerous applicants who responded.

?You are in total control of the situation, even to specifying where the person can collect the item(s),? she says. ?If you don?t want them coming to your home you can designate somewhere else as a meeting place.?

Speaking of the UK users, Mrs. Cooper says it was a ?very, very friendly?, problem-free group, and she hopes that a similar quality will develop among local users.

Having heard, however, of ?certain problems? among the US group, she will act as the moderator of the Bermuda Freecycle site, vetting all listings to ensure that nothing unsavoury or illegal gets on to what is a family-friendly group.

Since opening a personal account on a Yahoo group site can show a group user?s profile, Mrs. Cooper plans to screen all applicants. If there is something she deems ?unsuitable? on it, she will request the user to create a separate, suitable profile.

?Children click on to whatever is on the screen so you have to be careful about what is on the group site,? she says.

Although the Freecycle Network (www.freecycle.org) is less than three years old, two million members around the world use it to recycle perfectly good items which would otherwise be thrown away. It uses Yahoo e-mail lists to keep members informed about items available for collection, as well as letting them specify things they are looking for.

Mrs. Cooper?s inspiration for starting the Bermuda group began in England when she cleared out her home to move here and learned first-hand how easy and successful it was to offload unwanted possessions. Still in its infancy, she is nonetheless optimistic that Freecycle Bermuda will be another successful tool in our ability to reduce waste and recycle.

?It is estimated that the Freecycle Network keeps 50 tonnes of waste out of landfills every day around the world. What a boost for the environment!? she says. ?We all know about the problems associated with landfills and incinerators ? the pollution, the toxic chemicals being released into the soil and into the air. So what better way to help the environment, have a bit of fun, and maybe get that item you?ve been searching for but haven?t been able to find, than to join Bermuda Freecycle??

Indeed, the concept is not all about offloading possessions. The other side of this coin is people seeking items to acquire items.

?If there is something you are particularly looking for you can post a ?wanted? message to the group, and there may be someone who has that item gathering dust who is willing to give it to you if you come and collect it,? Mrs. Cooper says. ?Other groups have seen all sorts of items finding new homes, from books to cars, building materials to baby clothes.?

Naturally, all goods must be in good condition ? and again free of charge.