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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Yellowknifers have a new way to stay green and get things they need at the same time.

People who have things that they no longer need can now give them away without using up space at the landfill.

Wayne Overbo moderates Freecycle Yellowknife's web page. The service helps people find items they need or find homes for things they don't use anymore. He has several science fiction books he wants to get rid of. - Jason Emiry/NNSL photo

Wayne Overbo began moderating an online web page called Freecycle Yellowknife on Aug. 19. New members can sign up at Freecycle Yellowknife's Yahoo group online.

The group matches people who have things they need to get rid of with people who can use them. The group hopes to reduce consumerism and lessen the impact of manufacturing goods on the Earth.

The Freecycle network is a worldwide organization that was started in Tucson, Arizona by Deron Beal in 2003. According to their website the group originally started recycling items to nonprofit organizations. They found delivering them was a lot of work so they created their web page. The Freecycle concept can be found in 75 countries. The Freecycle web page says that through their service they keep 300 tons a day out of landfills.

Overbo found out about Freecycle last year.

"Over the winter I saw it somewhere on the net," said Overbo. "About a month ago a friend of mine in England was telling me about how she had some kitchen tiles to get rid of. She said she went on the Freecycle site".

Overbo would like to eventually make it a resource for charities like the Salvation Army or different church organizations.

"The main stage is to get a core body of people using it," said Overbo. "Get the word out. The next level I want it to get to is groups using it. A local charity or a church can access it. Either for something local or some kind of disaster. It will be a form for people to state what they need. The contact will be there and they can facilitate the delivery themselves. We can provide more than just an individual service, but give back to the community and go beyond our local borders."

Ecology North is happy about the idea. "We are extremely supportive of it and want to spread the message," said Shannon Ripley of the Yellowknife-based environment group.

"We have been working with waste reduction and waste management. This is a great way to do it. A few of our members in the past few months have come up with a few suggestions for that exact idea to encourage people to not take things to the dump and find ways to take things to people's homes before they end up at the dump."