ReUse Pack and Give Back Program
Moving and need to downsize? Bought or brought items you don't use and take up too much space?
- Get rid of items you don't need with the ReUse, Pack & Give Back Program where students can donate things they no longer need to ReUse! ReUse will sort, sell, or dispose of them.
- Starting December 13th, there will be Pack & Give back drop-off collections in the lobbies of: 17th Avenue Hall, Bailey Hall, Centennial Hall, Comstock Hall, Frontier Hall, Keeler Hall, Middlebrook Hall, Pioneer Hall, Sanford Hall, Territorial Hall, Radius Apartments, Yudof Hall, and Wilkins Hall.
- Donations to Pack and Give Back are open to ALL residents in the Marcy-Holmes, Southeast Como, Prospect Park, and Cedar-Riverside neighborhoods. Students living off campus can bring usable materials and items to the ReUse warehouse during open hours!
- Student hours for drop-off- Monday-Friday: 8:30am-3:30pm and Saturday: 10am-4pm
- Students are encouraged to donate things they no longer use or need.
What is the ReUse Program?
- The University of Minnesota ReUse Program collects surplus office furniture, supplies, equipment and parts from throughout the Twin Cities Campus and makes them available to University departments or individuals for purchase. The ReUse program works to:
- RELIEVE 250 University buildings of unwanted materials, fixtures and supplies.
- REDISTRIBUTE furniture & equipment valued at over $200,000 to U of M departments each year.
- RESELL a never-ending variety of items to the general public each Thursday and Saturday.
- RECYCLE unwanted steel, aluminum, wood, cardboard & paper.
- REDUCE campus construction waste that would otherwise end up at the landfill.
- General public & shopping hours are Thursday: 8:30am-5:00pm & Saturday: 10:00am-4:00pm. It is ILLEGAL to leave items outside of their building outside of open hours.
- The ReUse program normally only collects items owned by the University, but through the Pack and Give Back Program, students can donate items at specific times.
- There may be a small fee of 10 cents per pound for large quantities of materials that are refrigerated. Small quantities of most materials are accepted with no charge.
Shop at the ReUse Program for the holidays!
- Look on their ReUse Facebook Page to see items up for sale. The only way to buy something is to go in person, or over the phone during public hours.
- In the fall, many items from the Pack and Give Back program are available for FREE in the free store. Students should check out the Free Store prior to purchasing new items. This could make perfect affordable gifts for the holiday season.
- When purchasing items, they accept cash, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover (no checks)
- Check out our TikTok to see some of the many items they have!
- Great place to get sustainable gifts this holiday season!
ReUse Program | UMN Facilities Management
Four University of Minnesota campuses earned 10 of the first 16 Climate Action Milestones awarded by Second Nature, recognizing their work in education, research, community collaboration and inclusive governance.
The University of Minnesota's on-campus solar expansion projects were recognized as Project of the Year by the Minnesota Solar Energy Industries Association (MnSEIA), highlighting progress toward the University's Climate Action Plan goals.
The 2026 Campus Conservation Challenge runs from Oct. 26 to Nov. 20, 2026, with University of Minnesota Twin Cities residence halls competing to reduce energy use. Students can help their halls save energy by turning off lights, unplugging devices and making other small changes to their daily routines. The winning residence hall will receive a prize!
Last year, Territorial Hall reduced its energy use by 16% compared to 2024. This year, students have another opportunity to make an impact and help build a campus culture of sustainability. Learn more about the CCC and how to participate.
Welcome back to campus! Here’s what’s coming up in our Sustainability Coffee Chats series this fall:
- ☕ Sept. 28, 9 to 10 a.m. — Learning Abroad, SDGs & Sustainability
- ☕ Oct. 15, 9:30 to 11 a.m. — Planetary Health 📍 IN PERSON at RecWell
- ☕ Nov. 18, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. — Native American Medicine Garden (Register)
- ☕ Dec. 1, 12 to 1 p.m. — Ask Me Anything: Leading Through Sustainability & Climate Action with Shane Stennes, Chief Sustainability Officer (hosted by the Alumni Association) (Register)
Welcome, new and returning students! Did you know that students and faculty at the U have access to a Universal Transit Pass included with student fees, so you can explore the Twin Cities sustainably? The Coffee Passport has directions to coffee shops owned by ethnically diverse communities, less than 15 minutes away from the East Bank. Together, we can save time, money and CO2 emissions to achieve the U’s Climate Action Plan of reducing commuting emissions by 40% by 2030. Download the Coffee Passport.
Join and on July 15 from 9-10 a.m. at for the groundbreaking of the first of seven new solar installations planned for the Twin Cities campus. It's an exciting milestone as we continue expanding renewable energy and advancing our Climate Action Plan.
By Sunhari Jacob, Student Engagement Strategy Assistant
The 2026 Campus Conservation Challenge engaged more than 220 students in reducing residence hall energy use, resulting in measurable savings and increased sustainability engagement. The challenge demonstrated how collective action can create meaningful environmental impact on campus.
The University of Minnesota Twin Cities has received a STARS® Gold rating! The Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System™ (STARS®) Gold rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) recognizes the long-term sustainability goals and performances for all higher education. Read the extended summary.
Check out an EV from HOURCAR and an electric Chevrolet Equinox from Fleet, and test ride bikes from Lime and scooters from Spin. Ice cream from the University Meat and Dairy Salesroom available while supplies last! Wed. May 27, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Lilly Plaza.
Join the University of Minnesota Twin Cities for Bike to Work Day on Tuesday, May 12 from 8 to 10 a.m. and show your support for sustainable commuting! Whether you're a seasoned cyclist or just getting started, this is the perfect opportunity to enjoy the ride, connect with fellow bikers and get rewarded for your pedal power. Stop by these two campus locations for FREE treats, giveaways and services:
- University Bike Center at Oak Street Ramp
- Pleasant Street SE at University Avenue