Popular Questions

  • How do I change which posts I see?

    You can change which posts you see by updating your post options on the Settings page. To get the most control, you should enable the option labelled "Only show posts that are near me" and then set the distance to match the local area you want.

  • How does feedback work?

    The feedback information you see on other members has two main parts - a feedback score and a positive feedback percentage. If you've used eBay before, then you'll probably be familiar with how these work.

    The feedback score is a number shown inside a colored box with an arrow next to it. The arrows and the coloring are just a quick visual indicator of whether someone's feedback is good (blue with an up arrow) or bad (red with a down arrow)*. The feedback score is the count of all positive feedback a member has received minus the count of all negative feedback a member has received. A positive score means that a member has received more positive feedback than negative feedback. And a negative feedback score means that a member has received more negative feedback. So higher scores are better.

    The positive feedback percentage shows what percent of the feedback a member has received in the last year was positive. This gives a better understanding of the data that makes up the feedback score and provides a good summary of the more recent feedback a member has received. If a member hasn't received any feedback in the last year, then no positive feedback percentage will be shown.

    The feedback system was only launched in 2020 so there are many members (both long time and new members) who won't have any feedback shown.

    *In more detail, the red box with a down arrow shows up when someone has a feedback score that is less than zero. Otherwise the box will be blue and have an up arrow.

  • What are the rules and guidelines?

    Only posts that are giving away or requesting free, legal and family-friendly items are allowed. Members are expected to always be respectful and polite when posting and communicating with other members.

    In more detail, the following are not allowed in posts or in messages to other members:

    • No buying, selling, trading, bartering or requesting money
    • No alcohol, tobacco, weapons or prescription drugs
    • No services or jobs
    • No promotions or advertising
    • No real estate, rentals or housing
    • No coupons or vouchers
    • No spamming

    Anyone who plans to resell items must say in their posts and messages that they plan to resell items they receive. This gives the people giving away items the chance to decide whether they want their item to be resold or not.

    Certain rules can vary from group to group depending on the volunteer moderators who run each group.

    For example, most groups don't allow posting animals or pets and don't allow requests to borrow items but some groups do.

    And rules on how often posts can be reposted vary from group to group. With most groups, you can repost Offers after a few days and Requests after a couple weeks.

    If you have a question about your local groups' rules, please contact the moderators.

    If a post is breaking a rule, please report the post.

    If another member has broken a rule, please report the member.

  • What is the Fair Offer Policy?

    The Fair Offer Policy is an optional policy that people can use when they post Offers. If someone chooses to use the Fair Offer Policy, it means that they have agreed to wait a period of time before choosing who to give their item(s) to. This gives people who receive the digest emails, or those who are online less frequently, a fair chance to reply to the offer.

    "A period of time" is usually just one day though some groups ask their members to wait two or three days when using the Fair Offer Policy.

    Note: The Fair Offer Policy does not mean that someone is offering an item for sale. Buying and selling is not allowed on freecycling groups.

  • What's the difference between freecycling and trash nothing?

    Freecycling is the act of giving away items for free to people who can use them. And the trash nothing app makes it easy for people to freecycle anywhere in the world.

    Since freecycling began two decades ago on Yahoo Groups, it has spread to many new sites, groups and apps. Currently trash nothing supports many of the original freecycling groups from Yahoo Groups, Freegle groups, and groups powered by trash nothing. We're open to adding support for new groups and sites when possible but sadly many of the other sites don't have the features necessary for trash nothing to access their groups.


Browse By Topic

About

  • 13 questions  View All
  • How do I add events?

    The goal of the events page is to promote local events that align with the goals of Trash Nothing. Some examples include repair cafés, free markets and clothing swaps. If you're part of an organization that runs events that might fall under one of the 8 R's below, contact us and send us some information about your organization and your events (with a link to your organization or event listings if possible) and we'll see if they are a good fit for the Trash Nothing community.

    The 8 R's below provide a rough guide for the types of events we're excited about:

    1. Rethinking choices
    2. Refusing single use / waste
    3. Reducing consumption
    4. Reusing everything
    5. Refurbishing old items
    6. Repairing instead of replacing
    7. Repurposing
    8. Recycling
  • How do I donate money?

    If you'd like to help keep trash nothing running smoothly and support the ongoing development of the site, you can make a contribution. And if you contribute, you won't see commercial advertisements.

  • How do I invite people to trash nothing?

    Simply tell them to visit trashnothing.com to sign up (or install the trash nothing app from the app store).

    Telling your friends, family and co-workers about trash nothing is the best way to help your local community grow and help keep more stuff out of the landfills.

    Giving 5 star ratings on Google Play and Apple App Store is also a great way to help more people find trash nothing.

    If you have a bit more time, you can post flyers or reach out to local organizations and ask them to help spread the word. Find out more ways you can help (and get a copy the flyer) on the Volunteer page.

  • How do I volunteer?

    You can learn about different volunteer opportunities on the volunteer page.

  • Is reselling allowed?

    Resellers are members who receive free items and then sell them outside of trash nothing. Buying and selling on trash nothing is not allowed but reselling free items is a valid way to reuse items and keep them out of the landfill as long as resellers follow the rule below.

    People who resell items must say in their posts and messages that they plan to resell items they receive. This gives the people giving away items the chance to decide whether they want their item to be resold or not.

    If you have a question about your local groups' rules, please contact the moderators.

    If a post is breaking this rule, please report the post.

    If another member has broken this rule, please report the member.

Account

  • 27 questions  View All
  • How do I bookmark a post?

    When you view a post on the site or in the apps, there is a button labelled "Bookmark" that shows up below every post that you can click to bookmark the post.

    Once you bookmark a post, the post will be visible on the bookmarks page.

  • How do I change my location?

    There are different answers depending on which location you are referring to.

    The location of posts you see on the main posts page is based on the groups you are a member of and your post settings. You can add and remove groups on the Groups page at any time. And you can change your post settings using the post options on the Settings page.

    If you're trying to change the location that shows up on your posts (either the location text or the map), you can edit your posts to change the location of the post. And when you submit new posts, make sure to check that the Location field on the New Post page has the correct location.

  • How do I change my password?

    If you're logged in, you can change your password on the Settings page.

    If you are unable to login, see how to reset your password

  • How do I change my profile picture?

    You can change your profile picture on the Settings page.

  • How do I change the the layout of the main posts page?

    The layout options for the main posts page are on the main posts page at: https://trashnothing.com

    If you're on a mobile device:

    1. Click the Options button near the top of the page
    2. In the "Layout" section, click the layout you want to use
    3. Click the "Save" button at the bottom

    If you're on a larger screen device, the layout option are 4 icons near the top right of the main posts page and you can click any one of the icons to change the layout.


Emails

Feedback

  • 6 questions  View All
  • How do I leave feedback?

    You can leave feedback (or change the feedback) on another person by following the directions below:

    1. Go to the messages page and open the conversation with the person you want to leave feedback on. If the conversation was archived or blocked, you will find it in your archived conversations or your blocked conversations.

    2. Open the menu at the top right of the conversation by clicking the icon with 3 vertical dots that is to the right of the persons' profile image and name.

    3. Click "Leave Feedback"

  • How do I remove feedback I've left on someone?

    You can remove feedback you've left on another person by following the directions below:

    1. Go to the messages page and open the conversation with the person you want to leave feedback on.

    2. Open the menu at the top right of the conversation by clicking the icon with 3 vertical dots that is to the right of the persons' profile image and name.

    3. Click the "Leave Feedback" option

    4. Click the button labelled "remove the feedback".

  • How do I view another members' feedback?

    If a member has a feedback rating, it will show up next to their profile photo on the post view page and next to their profile photo when you view a message or conversation with them.

    If a member doesn't have a feedback rating, nothing will be shown in the spot where feedback ratings usually show up.

    If you've left feedback on someone, you can see your feedback comments next to their feedback rating on the post view page or by clicking on their name or photo on the messages page. The feedback comments that other people have left are not currently shown to anyone except the person who left them.

    To learn what the feedback rating numbers mean, read how the feedback works.

  • How does feedback work?

    The feedback information you see on other members has two main parts - a feedback score and a positive feedback percentage. If you've used eBay before, then you'll probably be familiar with how these work.

    The feedback score is a number shown inside a colored box with an arrow next to it. The arrows and the coloring are just a quick visual indicator of whether someone's feedback is good (blue with an up arrow) or bad (red with a down arrow)*. The feedback score is the count of all positive feedback a member has received minus the count of all negative feedback a member has received. A positive score means that a member has received more positive feedback than negative feedback. And a negative feedback score means that a member has received more negative feedback. So higher scores are better.

    The positive feedback percentage shows what percent of the feedback a member has received in the last year was positive. This gives a better understanding of the data that makes up the feedback score and provides a good summary of the more recent feedback a member has received. If a member hasn't received any feedback in the last year, then no positive feedback percentage will be shown.

    The feedback system was only launched in 2020 so there are many members (both long time and new members) who won't have any feedback shown.

    *In more detail, the red box with a down arrow shows up when someone has a feedback score that is less than zero. Otherwise the box will be blue and have an up arrow.

  • Is feedback anonymous?

    When you leave feedback, it is anonymous and the other member won't receive any notification that they have new feedback.


Groups

  • 8 questions  View All
  • How do I add a group to my account?
    1. Go to the Groups page and click the button labelled "Add Group".
    2. The Add Groups page should then show a list of groups in your location. If you need to change the location, just click the location name near the top of the page to change it.
    3. For each group you want to add, click the green button to the right of the group name that is labelled with a plus symbol.

    Once you add a group, a subscription request is automatically sent to the group. It can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few days for your request to be approved (but we'll automatically email you once you are approved). The reason for the delay is that some group moderators choose to moderate membership requests in order to prevent spammers and non-local people from joining.

  • How do I contact the moderators?

    Each group is run by one or more volunteer moderators who set the rules for the group and manage the group members and group posts. You can use the Moderator contact page to get in touch with the moderators who run your local groups.

    If you're reporting some one to the moderators, you may also want to leave feedback on the person.

  • How do I report a message or conversation?
    1. Go to the messages page and view the conversation.
    2. Open the options menu by clicking the three vertical dots icon near the top right of the conversation.
    3. Click "Report"
  • How do I report a post?

    When you view a post on the site or in the apps, there is a button labelled "Report" that shows up below every post that you can click to report the post to the volunteer moderators.

  • How do I start a new group?

    It only takes a minute to start a new group in your area. Just fill out and submit the new group form to create a new group.

Photos

  • 4 questions  View All
  • How do I post a photo?

    The New Post page has a button labelled "Add Photos" that you can click to add photos when you are submitting new posts.

    If you have problems adding a photo using the New post page, most groups allow links to photos in the details section of your post. So you can use a site like Flickr, Dropbox or Google Photos to upload your photos and then just include a link to those photos in your post details.

    If your trying to add photos to an existing post, you can edit your post to add photos to it.

  • I'm not seeing all my photos when I try to add photos?

    This can happen on Apple iOS devices if you accidentally limited Trash Nothing to only access a few photos instead of allowing access to all photos. Limiting apps access to specific photos is a privacy option that Apple provides but it does limit functionality.

    If you are using the Trash Nothing iOS app from the app store, you'll need to use the iOS Settings app to change the photo permissions that the Trash Nothing app has. Another way to reset the photo permissions is to uninstall and reinstall the iOS app.

    If you are using the Trash Nothing website, you'll need to change the browser permissions that the Trash Nothing website has in the settings of the browser you are using.

  • What does the plus sign and number on a photo mean?

    The plus sign with a number that you sometimes see at the top right of a post photo on the main listings page shows you how many other photos there are for the post.

    For example, if you see "+2" that means that there are 2 other photos that aren't being shown. If you click on the post to view the post in detail, you will be able to see all the photos.

  • Where are the post photos?

    Photos should always be linked to or shown with the post when you view a post on the site or in the app.

    If a post mentions photos but none are visible and there is no link, the poster may have forgotten to attach the photos. In these cases, it's usually easiest to reply to the post and ask the poster to send you the photos.


Pickup

  • 3 questions  View All
  • How and where should I arrange pickup of an item?

    If you are the one giving away items, it's up to you to decide when and where the pickup should take place. Often people will leave the items on their doorstep or arrange a meeting in a public place. You should arrange a time and place that works for you and the person you've chosen to come pickup the item.

  • How do I handle no-shows?

    If you're offering an item and someone misses the arranged pickup, it's up to you how to handle it. Most people give the person a 2nd chance within a day or two before offering the item to the next person in line. You can also leave feedback on the person.

    It's always a good idea to collect a few replies to your offer before marking your offer as gifted. This makes it easier to give away your item without having to repost.

  • How do items change hands - are they picked up or delivered?

    Because items are being given away, it's expected that the person chosen to receive the item will travel and pickup the item. The pickup is done at a time and place that is arranged with the person offering the item.

Posting

  • 24 questions  View All
  • Can I buy, sell, trade, swap or barter?

    Everything posted must be free with no strings attached so buying, selling, trading, swapping and bartering aren't allowed. It's also against the rules to reply to other members' posts to try to buy, sell, trade, swap or barter with them. So please don't attempt to do this or you'll likely be removed or banned.

    There are many other sites and apps that allow you to buy, sell, trade and barter. You might try Ebay, Craigslist in the US, Gumtree in the UK, Kijiji in Canada.

  • Can animals and pets be posted?

    The rules regarding animals are set by the volunteer moderators who run each group and so the rules can often vary from group to group. Some groups do allow animals to be posted and other groups do not. You can contact the moderators of your local groups to ask whether or not animals are allowed.

  • How do I edit my post?

    To edit your post, go to the Your Posts page and click on the post that you would like to edit. Then click the option labelled "Edit".

    The edit option will only show up for active posts. If your post is no longer active, then you can repost and you will be able to edit your post before it is reposted.

  • How do I mark my Offer as gifted?

    Once your item has been given away, go to the Your Posts page and click on the Offer post that contains the item(s) that you want to mark as gifted. Then click the option labelled "Mark as gifted". This will remove your Offer post from the group listings.

  • How do I mark my Offer as promised?

    Once you have promised your item to someone, go to the Your Posts page and click on the Offer post that contains the item(s) that you want to mark as promised. Then click the option labelled "Mark as promised". This will help other people know that your Offer has been promised.


Replying

  • 15 questions  View All
  • Are messages public?

    All messages you send in reply to posts and to other people using the messages page are private.

    You can also reply to the messages you receive by email and your replies are only sent to the other person.

  • How can I tell if someone has seen my message?

    There is no way to tell if someone has seen or read your messages.

    You can tell if your message has been sent successfully by looking for the checkmark that shows up on your message on the messages page. But there is no way to track if or when someone sees your message because many people only read and respond to messages by email and there is no way to know when someone opens or reads an email.

    You may also want to read the help page about not getting responses.

  • How do I block someone?

    To block someone, use the messages page to find the conversation from the person you're trying to block. Once you are viewing the conversation, click on the options menu near the top right of the conversation and select "Block" (the options menu uses an icon showing 3 vertical dots).

    Once you block someone, you will no longer receive messages or emails from them.

  • How do I choose who to give my offer to?

    It's completely up to you! Some people choose the first person to respond but we usually recommend choosing someone who communicates clearly and makes it easy to schedule the pickup.

    When you're choosing, you might want to keep some of the no-show prevention tips in mind to help you choose someone who is more likely to show up.

  • How do I delete messages?

    To delete messages, use the messages page to find the conversation you want to delete and then click on that conversation to view it and the messages in the conversation. Once you are viewing the conversation, click on the options menu near the top right of the conversation and select "Delete" (the options menu uses an icon showing 3 vertical dots).