It is not quite a case of ‘out with the old and in with the new’ — more a system of ‘out with the old and in with the used’.

Freecycle is a flourishing scheme which encourages people to offer unwanted possessions for free to anyone who wants to come and pick them up, rather than cast them out as rubbish that will end up in landfill.

Users post their items on the message board of the Barnet Freecycle website in the hope other members will want to snap up their scraps.

Set up in America in 2001, there are almost six million users of the service worldwide, with the Barnet borough group comprising almost 5,000 people.

The site celebrated its first anniversary this summer and more than 900 people now post their goods online each month.

Barnet Freecycle founder John Heyworth said: “When I was going to get rid of some stuff I went to join the nearest group and I realised there wasn’t one in the area so I set up the Barnet one.

“It’s about things you can keep out of landfill sites, but some people do get the wrong idea and ask for money.

“I am not an environmental crusader but we all have to take note of the amount of rubbish we make and try to minimise the waste we are putting in bins.

“There is a lot of second-hand stuff available that people buy new, especially for children, not bottles and breast pumps, but toys and clothes — little things that someone would be very grateful for.”

The 38-year-old, of Colenso Drive, Mill Hill, is one of two moderators who scan the website to ensure items advertised are legitimate and meet the criteria of being safe, legal and available to all ages.

Offers posted on the site this week included a pink toddler’s ski suit, a step machine and a toaster, while “wanted” messages asked for a tumble dryer, old perfumes and aftershaves, and a phone.

An air rifle was once posted on the site, which had to be removed, but the list of bizarre offerings has included broken computers and requests ranging from a single squash ball to a house in Hendon.

“A lot of it is very boring and mundane, but it is very practical, and rather than giving to charity shops I thought it was a better way of getting rid of stuff,” added Mr Heyworth, a married father-of-two.

“We live in a consumerist society and a lot of people can go out and buy it quite cheap from shops, but lots of charities, hostels and refuges use the site to find furniture.

“It gives people a feeling that they are helping a good cause without having to dedicate time or leave the comfort of their front room.”

Barnet Council has helped promote the scheme by including links on its website and on leaflets distributed around the borough encouraging re-using and recycling.

Councillor Andrew Harper, cabinet member for environment and transport, said: “The idea behind Freecycle is one which we whole-heartedly support.

“The website’s user-friendly approach to re-using and recycling is an effective way to get rid of things you don’t want instead of dumping them.”

To join Barnet Freecycle, visit the group's website.