If you’ve ever felt bad about throwing away unwanted items, a new group on the Islands could be just what you need.

Whether it’s a settee, a piano, a set of coathangers or an old door, Scilly Freecycle could find a new home for your stuff - or help you find something for yourself.

The group was founded by Islander Natalie Legg last December in response to concerns about the lack of recycling facilities on the Islands.

‘I have always had a problem throwing away anything that is potentially of use to someone in some way, and the facilities for recycling goods have been lamentably few here,? Natalie told ScillyNews.

‘The Salvation Army clothes bin, Cancer Research via the Steamship Company and the church shop are all great for clothes and small items reuse, and the auctions for other things too, but I thought there were more opportunties.

‘A friend of mine in Oxford told me about Freecycle? and suggested I start a group here.?

Freecycle? is a worldwide non-profit movement aimed at reusing and recycling goods as much as possible to minimise the need for landfill (and in Scilly’s case, incineration).

Members sign up online, post a message about an item they no longer need and wait to see if someone is interested.

Natalie explained: ‘For example, lots of us end up with half a tin of paint, a few bathroom tiles or several spare tomato plants which we would much prefer to be of benefit to someone else than be dumped; freecycle can deal with those kind of offers.

‘If you want to get an idea of what sort of things change hands, join any Freecycle? group and look at their list - you’ll soon realise that, as long as you respect the rules, the possibilities are endless.?

The Freecycle? Network was started in May 2003 to promote waste reduction in downtown Tucson, Arizona, and help save desert landscape from being taken over by landfills. There are now 3,960 groups across the globe.

‘It is a simple idea that relies on members co-operation and initiative, and as the name implies, there is no money involved; it is run by volunteers,” Natalie said.

‘We are just getting started with scilly-freecycle and learning as we go, so please support us and make recycling your unwanted items a way of life, and have fun helping to save the earth’s resources - one gift at a time.?

If you would like to join the group, go to http://www.uk.freecycle.org, then find Isles of Scilly.