A new cluster of Facebook groups is encouraging Wyndham residents to share their unwanted goods and pass on things they don’t want or can’t use.
Hoppers Crossing resident Alicia Polman said Buy Nothing is a movement with its origins in the United States, and is a way for people within neighbourhoods to swap unused items, rather than binning them.
Recently, Ms Polman created a similar group for Hoppers Crossing and, within a month, there was enough interest to set up separate groups for each Wyndham suburb.
Ms Polman said residents can offer any excess or unwanted goods for their neighbours to snap up, including home-grown fruit and vegetables, clothes, appliances, toys and tools.
She said residents could also call out for items that they needed to borrow – for example, a drill for a quick home maintenance fix.
“I love how quickly it’s grown, and how willing people are to give,” Ms Polman said.
“I feel like it’s a really good step towards getting away from a consumer-driven society, using stuff that would otherwise go to waste.”
Lisa Field, who runs Buy Nothing Werribee’s Facebook page, said it is a great way to declutter without dumping, and it helps residents forge closer ties with others in their suburbs.
“It’s a really practical, simple way to meet some new neighbours and offload some stuff, without creating waste,” she said.
To find your group, search for Buy Nothing, plus your suburb, in Facebook.
