UB ReUSE partners with local groups to expand collections

UB’s favorite waste-diversion program, UB ReUSE, is once again reminding students to donate any unwanted dorm supplies during its Move-Out Collection event during the first two weeks of May. The items collected will then be cleaned and sold at a discounted rate at UB Sustainability’s fall ReUSE market.

The list of acceptable items has expanded and now includes graduation regalia, part of the “Gift Your Gown” pilot program started by UB Sustainability and the College of Arts and Sciences, as well as nonperishable food, winter clothing and unopened hygiene products.

Several additional changes to the list of ReUSE’s acceptable items have been made thanks to collaborations with local and on-campus groups, such as Hearts for the Homeless, Blue Table Food Pantry and UB Heals. These new collection avenues — along with UB Sustainability’s HIRED Professional Clothing Boutique — collect items not suitable for resale at the current fall ReUSE market and divert them through community programs. Hearts for the Homeless, for example, has red bins on campus to collect winter coats and everyday clothing that will be diverted to its clothing closet and thrift shop.

Here’s more information about the new partner organizations:

Hearts for the Homeless: Large red drop-off containers are located on campus for everyday clothing that will be diverted to its clothing closet and thrift shop.  

UB Heals: A designated UB HEALS bin can be found at The Landing at Ellicott for unopened hygiene products, winter clothing and outerwear, socks and backpacks and bags.  

Blue Table: Nonperishable food can be donated to UB’s Blue Table food pantry for students who do not have access to food because of an emergency. Blue Table donation boxes will be available at on-campus apartment community buildings. 

Gift Your Gown Program: Graduation regalia receives a second life with the Gift Your Gown Program. Caps, gowns and hoods can be dropped off at bins located around commencement ceremonies and at UB ReUSE bins throughout the Ellicott Complex and at campus apartment community buildings. Next year, students who need assistance in securing caps and gowns can reach out to their commencement coordinators to inquire about the donated regalia.

HIRED: The HIRED Boutique provides students and recent graduates with gently used apparel, accessories and personal care items that will help them achieve their career development goals. Donations of gently used professional attire and accessories can be dropped off at all Bonnie bin locations — UB Sustainability’s personified collection bins.

Olivia McCarthy, sustainability operations coordinator at UB Sustainability, says UB ReUSE’s expansion was motivated by the response to last year’s Move-Out Collection. “We weren't actively soliciting nonperishable food or winter clothing items, for example, but with how many of those items we saw in our UB ReUSE Bonnie bins it was clear that students need a convenient diversion path for those types of items during move out,” she explains.

“We quickly identified and sought out UB Heals and UB Blue Table in order to get those items to places where they could do the most good. By finding partners on campus and in the community, we've been able to balance our staff, student and resource capacities while continuing to uplift circularity,” she continues.

“This is a great way to give back to our local community,” says Genevieve Fontana, communications and outreach student assistant at UB Sustainability. “Instead of getting rid of items that we cannot personally sell back to the students, each organization we are partnering with fills a specific need for both our UB and local communities.”

More information about drop-off locations and collection restrictions can be found on the UB Sustainability website.