A Best Practices Toolkit for
Community-Led Textile Reuse
University reuse programs may include free stores and move-out programs. Move out programs run as pop-up donation drop off locations at the end of the school year. The drop off location is, in most cases, a designated spot inside university residences. Items collected by university reuse programs may include textiles, household items, wood, glass, fibres, office supplies, plastic, paper, tools, equipment, and arts and craft supplies, which can be dropped at a designated location. Items collected are donated to external entities and, in some instances, a smaller percentage of items are stored on campus and resold to students at a move-in sale.
The goals of your university reuse program might include facilitating the sustainable and economical redistribution of used items on campus, reducing waste during student transitions, providing resources to economically disadvantaged students. These programs can also meet student demand for more affordable goods, while promoting a culture of eco-conscious behavior and profiling universities as sustainability leaders.
To define scope consider:
Determine how to generate funds: university support; sponsorship; direct fundraising on campus; charging fees for items left in residence rooms; entry fees to reuse sales – usually lower for students and relatively higher for community members.
Consider different models to run the program. Options include:
Promote university programs through municipal channels.
Educate/Outreach to raise awareness about reuse options during life transitions such as starting college.
Fund university reuse programs.
Partner with universities to run on-campus reuse initiatives.
Some programs run at a deficit or are in need of additional resourcing, such as paid staff rather than volunteers, in order to run effectively. Municipalities and universities could work together to provide funding and resources to priorities reuse activities on campus.
Items may be left over from reuse programs, creating opportunities to partner with charities to accept surplus donations, unclaimed or unsold items. Seek opportunities for charitable partnerships to reuse and recycle the remaining items off-campus. Some move-out programs also involve municipal pick-up of items such as bulky items like furniture that are not desired by charitable partners.
Since students may first swap or sell highest quality items between each other. Ensure reuse programs collect items that are valued by students and would be purchased new otherwise and disposed of, e.g,. mini fridges and office supplies.
UBC Mindful Move-Out (BC). Volunteer-run program that collects items from students moving out of residences. On average, collects 13 kg (30 lb) of materials per bed. Previously partnered with a charity organization, but adjusted into a collect, store, and resell model. Re-exploring the partnership model to include charitable donations in the future.
Concordia University Centre for Creative Reuse (QC). Collects and displays a variety of wood, glass, metal, fibres, office supplies, plastics, paper, tools and equipment, and arts & crafts supplies collected from campus departments and individuals. The Used Material Depot is a free store where members can “shop” for items for free. No evidence of clothing collection or charitable donation, which presents an opportunity for development in this area.
University of Winnipeg Sustainability Office (MB). The university’s sustainability office is diverting textile and houseware waste by running a drop off/pickup location for office supplies, offering recycling for office furniture and managing a move out program at one of the student residencies.