The BI Flashdrive Story

For quite some time, two high school students, Roan and Bo, and their mom Kathy noticed that people in the community were not using various recycling services available to deal with their unwanted household goods, even if those programs were free. They discovered the reasons why had to do with cost, convenience, and awareness:
1) Not everybody had the funds available to pay for fee-based recycling services,
2) Not everybody could physically access drop-off sites located around the island, and
3) Not everybody knew about various free ways to unload unwanted stuff.
In 2024, they came up with a solution called BI Flashdrive. It is a free, volunteer-run program that, once a month, picks up unwanted household items directly from people’s porches and doorsteps and re-channels those items into free reuse pathways.

Here’s how it works:
Step 1: Folks sign-up for our email notification service at biflashdrive@gmail.com.
Step 2: At the beginning of the month, they look for a “flash” in their email inbox.  This “flash” lets people know what free reuse/recycling pathway we are featuring, what is being collected, and when the pick-up will take place.
Step 3: If they have items to pass along, they shoot us an email back and say they have a pick-up.
Step 4: On Flashdrive Day, folks put their items outside their homes by 8am and BI Flashdrive takes it off their hands.

So far, we have rechanneled thousands and thousands of unwanted household goods – from blankets, expired pet medication, and books to buckets, guitars, and sneakers – away from landfills and into circular economies that reuse the things you no longer want. And you know what else? Our community builds happiness while working together. What’s not to love?!

Interested? Just email us at biflashdrive@gmail.com.  You can also visit our Instagram page @bi_flashdrive

Flashdrive podcast interview

CAN YOU BE A VOLUNTEER DRIVER?:

If you are available to help pick up items for Flashdrive collections, please let us know.  We do our best to assign folks a limited number of convenient pick-up locations near their homes and to make the process as efficient and as easy as possible for them.  The collection is once a month for a couple of hours max. The pick-up day varies from month to month. Once we get a sense of where the needs are, we will reach out. (We have been very fortunate and usually get more volunteer drivers than we need.) Thanks for considering!

NOVEMBER DRIVE

When: Saturday, November 14, 8am
What: In good condition

  • soccer cleats
  • soccer balls
  • tennis rackets
  • iPhones & Androids
  • iPads
  • iPad covers

Who: Good Play America Foundation

You may remember Good Play America – we have featured this incredible organization before.  This Bainbridge Island-based non-profit gives your unwanted athletic equipment to young athletes in Colombia who love sports but cannot afford soccer and tennis gear.

This year is particularly poignant, because many of the communities GPA serves live in Cali and were devasted by the recent 7.4 magnitude earthquake that struck their city.  Besides sporting equipment, the families indicated that they could really use iPhones, Androids and iPads to help rebuild their lives and get back to normal. (Please remember to delete personal information from the devices.)

WHEN: SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14…pick-up rounds begin at 8:00 AM

WHAT DO I NEED TO DO: Have items to donate?  Email us at biflashdrive@gmail.com.  Include your pick-up location (we ask every time to stay current). Have your items ready by Saturday, November 14 @ 8AM.

CAN YOU VOLUNTEER DRIVE? Please email us!

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COMING UP IN DECEMBER: TWO THIS TIME!

West Sound Wildlife Shelter: aquariums, carriers, fresh or frozen unseasoned raw meat, fish and berries, pet medication, etc)

The ReUse Depot: cookie cutters

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October tally for Peaceful Morning Farm:

  • 13 tarps
  • 10 hoses
  • 17 t-posts
  • 31 buckets
  • 3 pieces of metal fencing
  • 3 garden carts and wheelbarrows