Beth Rodda of Angwin knew exactly what to do when she had just two weeks to empty an apartment full of furniture, medical supplies and collectibles.

Post a “freecycling” ad on the Internet.

Rodda is a member of Napa County Freecycle, an environmentally-conscious Internet-based group committed to reducing unnecessary landfill waste.

Here’s how the free service works: When saddled with an outdated computer or old college furniture, Freecyclers don’t haul the items to the dump or allow them to collect dust in the garage. Instead, they post the availability of the wares online until a taker contacts them and picks the items up. Likewise, if a member is trying to acquire a particular item, such as a bicycle, he posts that information online until hearing back from someone who wants to unload the exact same thing.

Rodda said the best thing about being a part of the group is “the recycling part of it. ... All of mom’s things were in really good condition. If I didn’t do this, I would have had to set up some kind of sale or haul it off to the dump. (Freecycling) is working and I think it’s great.”

Like Rodda, Napa resident Anissa Pescio is a member of Napa County Freecycle. She joined the group a year and a half ago and has given away items including several boxes full of canned food, cloth diapers, baby supplies, children’s toys, computer parts and books. Although Pescio said she is “more of a giver than a receiver,” she found a treasure through her Freecycling membership — an overhead projector she donated to her daughter’s nursery school.

Rodda gives goods away on a first-come, first-served basis. “Whoever e-mails me first gets the stuff,” she said, adding that after she finds a taker, she places the items on her front porch for pick-up.

Freecycling is a good alternative to giving away unwanted items to family members or friends who may take them only to spare your feelings, she said.

“You can always give things away to people you know, but you never really know if they want it,” she said.

Napan Ron Hagar, moderator of the Napa County Freecycle Web site and a member for eight months, said there are nearly 500 participants in the local group.

Hagar said Freecycling originated in England. “It’s a really good concept and it works. ... Freecycling groups are in almost every country.”

Members who give things away not only remove clutter from their homes, but know that their actions helped someone else, he said.

Although postings most often offer household and backyard items, computers, clothing, furniture and beds, Hagar said, one member lucked out last spring when he got a running car for free.

“I was shocked,” Hagar said.

Another member asked for a house but never got his wish, he added.

Elizabeth Celaya of American Canyon, a member of three different Freecycling groups, said she joined Napa County Freecycle more than a year ago. She says she’s parted with infant clothing, an exercise bicycle, baby formula and toys.

“Think of all the wonderful things that people have laying around the house that they never use. ... Instead of throwing them away and filling up our landfills, we’re able to give them away to other people that can use it. One man’s garbage is another man’s treasure,” said Hagar.

To find out more about Napa County Freecycle or to join, visit groups.yahoo.com/group/NapaCountyCAFreecycle/.