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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 14, 2010
San Diego, Calif., October 13, 2010 — With today’s nationwide launch of Yinyango.org, residents of most metropolitan areas in the US can live “greener,” help others, and save money doing it. Yinyango enables people all across the country to more easily participate in the “local reusing” movement, aiming to reduce waste and greenhouse gases. Hundreds of thousands of items (furniture, televisions, kitchenware, DVDs, bicycles, plants, baby clothes, and more) are already available, offered completely free by locals.
Yinyango’s creator Ryan Walsh believes that most Americans are environmentalists at heart but until now haven’t had convenient ways to find reusable items or offer items for reuse.
“I don’t know anyone who would rather send a perfectly good TV to the landfill rather than let someone else use it for several years more,” Walsh said. “I’ve had a lot of experience on both sides of the reusing equation, and it’s really encouraging to see how joyful the givers are. People seem to want their old possessions to ‘live on’ and be appreciated by new owners.”
The EPA has reported that Americans generate an average of 1600 pounds of waste per person per year, half of which comes from “durable goods” and packaging.[1] Yinyango aims to make it easier for people to minimize this portion of their waste.
When people choose to reuse rather than buy new products, they participate in “source reduction,” which environmental experts recommend as the most effective method of minimizing greenhouse gases.[2] Creating a new product produces harmful emissions at each stage of its lifecycle: extraction and transport of raw materials, manufacturing processes, packaging, shipping to stores, and eventually additional waste management and decomposition.
The name “Yinyango” is a tribute to the philosophy of yin and yang, which involves concepts such as “renewal,” “interdependence,” and “balance.” Yinyango hopes to inspire the world “to realize its abundance.”
And abundant it is. In addition to items offered directly on Yinyango, Yinyango displays free items originally posted on Craigslist. Offerings range from “firewood” to “old magazines” to “heavy but functional HDTV.” Good news for the 83% of Americans[3] who live near large cities: metro areas have the most listings, so residents there are highly likely to find something interesting available nearby.
NYU law student Scott Welfel has already enjoyed the convenience of Yinyango.
“The email alerts and maps with walking directions are my favorite. I’ve never heard of an easier way to find great stuff for free.”
And those who have items that they’re looking to give away (perhaps from a cluttered garage, attic, or closet) can offer them very easily and save the environment in the process.
About Yinyango:
Yinyango.org is a unique website enabling millions of Americans to participate in the environmentally-friendly practice of “local reusing.” Using the website, people in every metro area of the US can easily find free pre-owned items in their neighborhoods or offer items that they no longer need. Alternatives to Yinyango, such as Freecycle (which is run via Yahoo email groups) require membership applications. Yinyango’s site visitors can participate immediately and effortlessly since no signup process is required. The site recognizes a user’s location and instantly shows which items are available nearby.
Contact Information:
Website URL: http://www.yinyango.org
Contact: media@yinyango.org
Phone: 424-20-YANGO (424-209-2646)
Ryan Walsh, creator of Yinyango
[1] http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/nonhaz/municipal/msw99.htm
[2] http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/wycd/waste/downloads/execsum.pdf [Solid Waste Management and Greenhouse Gases]
[3] http://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0082/Table_2.pdf
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