Summit Free Market: Great for You; Great for the Environment

“Free Market” Huh? Isn’t that an oxymoron? “Market” suggests a purchase and sale situation, but the Summit Free Market is more of a dream market, one where you can drop off unwanted items and pick up appealing ones–all at no cost!

The Summit Free Market provides Summit residents the opportunity to easily and conveniently donate reusable items, and to reduce the number of new things they buy. It also diverts materials from the waste stream (e.g., furniture, appliances and electronics) and redirects them to a willing user. Reusing, rather than tossing, demonstrates that waste is preventable, not inevitable.

First formulated by a group of dedicated, environmentally conscious public and private school students, the Market has become an initiative focused on bettering our environment through involving the local community. When you visit the Summit Free Market, either with an item to exchange, or simply to browse, you will first be asked to sign in and weigh your item if you bring one to share. Then if you find something you like and can use, take it home with you. It’s really that easy!

So what kinds of things might you bring to or get from the Market? All good working items with a plug (i.e., computers, toasters, lamps, refrigerators, etc.) are popular, as well as furniture, children’s toys and play equipment, books, home décor items and collectibles, to name a few. Clothing and most textiles are not allowed, nor are live animals, food, chemicals and a few other things--go to www.summitfreemarket.org for a complete list.

The Summit Free Market website also features an online program, which allows citizens to post unwanted goods and search for desired items.

All Summit residents are invited to bring unwanted, reusable items to the Summit Free Market tomorrow, April 30, at the City of Summit Transfer Station, on New Providence Avenue, from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Two additional Free Market events will take place on May 7 and May 14.

Claire Harrison, student chair of the Summit Free Market committee, has high hopes for the events coming up this spring.

“The support coming from the community after our past events has been huge, and after almost two years of work, the committee and the community have saved 40 tons of household items that would otherwise go to waste. Making such a positive impact on the environment, as well as on those who benefit by saving money, is what makes the effort worthwhile," she said.

You never know–that cabinet that’s been sitting in your basement might be just the item someone else needs. And you might just find that exact something you’ve been looking for. So help the environment, save some money, and maybe even make someone’s day.

By Beth Lovejoy, on behalf of the Summit Environmental Commission