The Buy Nothing Project first began in Bainbridge Island with two friends, Rebecca Rockefeller and Liesl Clark. After venturing through the Kitsap Peninsula, they were unhappy with the amount of waste they saw polluting the beach and decided to take action. Determined to make a change, they spent years collecting and identifying plastics they found in their community, eventually discovering that much of the waste comes from everyday products.
In an effort to reduce plastic waste in their environment, they founded the Buy Nothing Project. They created the first group in 2013, describing it as an “experimental, hyper-local gift economy.” In the 12 years since, Buy Nothing has blown up around the world, with groups spanning across 44 different nations.
How does it work?
The Buy Nothing Project operates on Facebook and through its own app, and divides users into groups based on their location. While the specific rules of each group may differ slightly, the Buy Nothing Project operates on a simple mindset: give without the expectation of anything in return. Bartering, trading, and selling are not permitted in any Buy Nothing groups, as it goes against Rockefeller and Clark’s idea of a “gift economy.”
Users post either asking for an item or offering up something they no longer need. Members of their community then chime in, either fulfilling an ask or showing their interest in an offered item.
Getting Started on The App
Through the app, users enter their email and their address and are immediately shown a grid of posts, both items being gifted and ISO (In Search Of) posts. Users then have the option to directly message other users, which helps to coordinate item pick-ups and drop-offs.
Buy Nothing App | Screenshot by Aidan Hadley
Changing your address or your search radius is easy with the help of the Community tab, which also displays the profile of your local Community Builder, someone who volunteers to help their neighbors learn the ins and outs of the app by modeling different posts.
The Share tab allows users to do three things: offer up an item or service, ask for an item or service, or express gratitude to another user. Through this, Buy Nothing aims to both foster connections within the community and promote sustainability.
Buy Nothing Share Tab | Screenshot by Aidan Hadley
Getting Started Through Facebook
To join your local Buy Nothing group on Facebook, begin by searching for it in the site’s search tab. Each group is labeled with the neighborhood that it pertains to, so choosing the correct one is important. If you are unsure which group to join, Buy Nothing Washington has created a map with each community’s boundaries. Once you request to join the group, you will be prompted to answer a few questions that will help the admins ensure that you are in the correct group.
Once you are in, you will be able to view the posts from everyone in your neighborhood. To ask for an item or service, simply make a post detailing exactly what it is you want. To offer something up, make a post describing the item and its condition, like our editor-in-chief did below.
Buy Nothing Facebook Post | Screenshot by Anne Godenham
To show your interest in an item, simply leave a comment. To make the process easier, most users include when they could pick up the item as well. Most often, the original poster will send you a direct message or reply to your comment if you were chosen to receive the item. From there, you can coordinate pickup.
Why Buy Nothing?
While the Buy Nothing Project was founded to reduce waste, Rockefeller and Clark also made it to help create a sense of community between neighbors. By operating solely through gift-giving, Buy Nothing helps foster trust and kindness within communities while also uplifting people in need.
“I dislike giving my things to places like Goodwill,” says Buy Nothing user Beau Spangler-Blatter. “I much prefer the simple one-on-one exchanges where I’m connecting with my community.” buynothingproject.org
