City of Prague Launches Online Free-Cycle Project

The new virtual marketplace offers a database of more than 3,000 used household items for free

Expats.cz Staff Jason Pirodsky

Written by Expats.cz StaffJason Pirodsky Published on 03.09.2017 22:05:42 (updated on 03.09.2017) Reading time: 1 minute

A new waste prevention project launched by the city of Prague encourages consumers to donate household items that they no longer use in order to give them a second life.

Implemented by Prague City Hall and launched last Friday, the virtual marketplace “Don’t Throw It Out” (Nevyhazujto) lists some 3,800 items across categories such as house and garden, sports and travel, and books. Everything from computer monitors and alarm clocks to toys is up for grabs.

Previously the service was run as a popular web portal and Facebook page; that group has now merged with the city’s Department of Environmental Protection.

“We hope that citizens will benefit from this new service and save the environment, their wallets, and space in their garbage or waste bin,” city councilor Jana Plamínková said in a press release.

In related news, the city recently announced that it is seeking a suitable Prague facility for its first “Re-Use Center”, a pilot project based on models in Vienna, Budapest, and Brno that would allow people to shop for discarded items, buying them for a symbolic fee. 

Proceeds from sales would be used to support the urban waste management system.

The trend of sharing and lending consumer goods has picked up in popularity over the past year with two “libraries of things,” which allow people to borrow instead of buying them, recently opening in the Czech capital.

Yet another new startup that promotes a shared economy is SharyGo, formerly SharyGator, a site where registered users can rent electronics, tools, baby gear, kitchen gadgets or camping equipment for a daily fee.

SharyGo offerings include daily use of an X-Box (90 CZK), Nitro electric scooter (350 CZK), Weber grill (90 CZK), tent (80 CZK), or drone (490 CZK). 

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