Trash Nothing

Website / Android app

Groups

Trash Nothing is an independent site, run and owned by Andrew Trusty, operating worldwide. It connects into Freegle groups, giving members a simple way to use as many groups as they wish. Trash Nothing (TN) also lets people set up and run Free groups directly on TN.

TN members

People wanting to join a Freegle group via TN are connected to us from the TN site via a TN email address, e.g. xxxxxxx32-g4577@user.trashnothing.com.

A lot of new members join Freegle groups via TN, so they're a valuable source of members. The TN site and apps are closely integrated with Freegle, and TN works as an alternative interface to Freegle groups. TN members can browse, reply to and submit offers and requests (and edit their own offers and requests). They can also see and respond to chats, either on TN or by email, and can view thumbs up/down ratings and member profiles on TN.

TN members can't see events, volunteer opportunities or ChitChat, which are Freegle-only features.

TN members manage their profile information and account settings at https://trashnothing.com/beta/settings. There are two options for a TN username: the first part of the member's email address, or a name of their own choosing (whatever they put in the "name" box). A "use name" tickbox controls which is used - if it's unticked, TN uses the first part of the email address.

Some members get confused between the two sites. Here's how it works:

• Freegle members can reply to Freegle or TN posts from Freegle, using their Freegle account.
• TN members can reply to Freegle or TN posts from TN, using their TN account.
• If someone sticks to just one system, they'll be fine - there's no need for two accounts.
• If a Freegle member goes to TN and tries to reply with their Freegle account, it won't work, because TN doesn't know about it - they'll need to create a TN account.
• If a TN member goes to Freegle and tries to reply with their TN account, it won't work, because Freegle doesn't know about it - they'll need to create a Freegle account.

So members need to pick one system and stick with it to avoid confusion.

TN member moderation / group settings

There's a moderators page where you can set things like the format of TN subject lines and whether/how crossposting is allowed.

(To log in without a verification email, go to the top of ModTools Settings: Community and click the link to your community's TN settings.)

Volunteers get a reminder about these settings every six months, and can access the site straight from the reminder. If there are any problems, just contact Andrew.

Example six-monthly reminder message:

This is an automated reminder that it's been at least 6 months since the xxxx Freegle group settings have been updated on trashnothing.com. If the group rules, questionnaire or post format have changed in the last 90 days, please click the link below to update the settings: https://trashnothing.com/moderator/group-settings?id=xxxxFreegle

The Group Settings page on trashnothing.com is used to configure how the xxxx Freegle group works for members of the group who are using trashnothing.com email accounts. The settings on this page are meant to work alongside the group's existing rules and guidelines.

If you have any questions about the Group Settings page, you can contact us at the link https://trashnothing.com/contact and/or you can reach the moderators page from here https://trashnothing.com/moderator/group-settings?id=xxxxxFreegle

Note: this email will probably show up first in the ModTools chat interface. Once you click the link in it, you'll be able to view and update the group settings.

It's worth checking which other TN groups are in your area, so you're aware of the groups your TN members might also belong to, in case of queries. You might also want to become a TN member yourself, so you can see what your members see and how the site works from a member's point of view.

Once you're on the moderator page it's fairly self-explanatory, but it's worth telling your team why they're getting these TN messages appearing in group chat.

TN has a help section for members - refer them there if they need help using the TN interface:

• https://help.trashnothing.com

Locations

You can set the location format in "Preferred Subject Line Location":

• neighbourhood name
• town or city name
• nearby cross streets
• postal code
• local
• area and short post code
• any of the above
• other

The current version of the TN site and apps gives members full control over exactly where the map is centred each time they post. If you notice a TN post with an incorrect map location, simply ask the TN member to edit their post to correct it.

If you want to send more detailed editing instructions to a TN member, use the following:

To edit your post, follow the instructions at: https://help.trashnothing.com/how-do-i-edit-my-post Once you're editing your post, click on the map to change where it shows, or use the "New Location" option as part of the Location selection on the edit post page.

Posting to groups

A member can compose one message and then select multiple groups to send it to (Freegle or Free groups) - there's no need to write a separate message for each group. If they don't select any groups, it goes to nearby TN members only.

When a TN member crossposts to multiple groups on TN, their post may get published on one group and become promised before another group has approved it. This can be confusing for Freegle moderators, because ModTools only shows posts from other Freegle groups, not from non-Freegle groups on TN. There are also cases where people post on TN and crosspost to other sites or apps as well.

When a TN member posts to just a single Freegle group, that post won't be published on the Freegle group - on Freegle Direct or TN - until the group's moderators approve it.

When a Freegle moderator rejects a post from a TN member, it won't show up on the Freegle group on Freegle Direct or TN.

When a Freegle moderator edits a post from a TN member, the edits show up on the Freegle group on both Freegle Direct and TN.

When a Freegle moderator deletes a post from a TN member, it's deleted on the Freegle group on both Freegle Direct and TN.

Reporting problems

TN members sometimes report problems with TN to Freegle moderators. Best practice is to refer them to the TN help section, where they can find answers or contact TN directly.

If this comes up often for your community, it's worth adding a standard response to your community's mod config standard messages.

Links:

• Feedback - includes information about the TN feedback system
• Other sites/interfaces