ReUse Program
ReUse Program

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! 

ReUse Warehouse
  • 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! https://www.tiktok.com/@umnsustainability/video/7179631989786447147?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7168514144829015598 
  • Great place to get sustainable gifts this holiday season! 

ReUse Program | UMN Facilities Management 

University of Minnesota Reuse Program - Home | Facebook 

ReUse Program Self-Help Guide | UMN Facilities Management

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Do you have input regarding the University of Minnesota Twin Cities' Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program? 

"Illicit discharges are considered 'illicit' because MS4s are not designed to accept, process, or discharge such non-stormwater wastes." (EPA) As water runs down the street into storm drains, contaminated with illicit discharge (such as cigarette butts, trash, salt, vehicle fluids, or yard waste) from the street, it flows back down through the stormwater system and back into the river. Learn how you can help or report illicit discharge on campus.

Facilities Management’s Landcare team is the primary snow removal service provider for the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus, responsible for clearing nearly 100 miles of streets and walkways, and over 100 acres of parking surfaces. Learn more:

Climate Literacy 101 with Mayor Melvin Carter and Dr. Heidi Roop

Thursday, 11/14 from 11am-2pm: The Climate Literacy 101 interactive workshop is designed to interpret the science and impacts of climate change for broad action, on campus and beyond. 

We will be joined by special guests Melvin Carter, Mayor of St. Paul, and Dr. Heidi Roop, Assistant Director for Climate Services, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and UMN Climate Adaptation Partnership.

Thursday, November 14th, 11am-2pm. Coffman Union, Mississippi Room (3rd floor). M Food Co is providing a "Climate Cool" lunch.
Register

The University of Minnesota Twin Cities continues to show its leadership in sustainability, earning recognition in The Princeton Review’s Guide to Green Colleges: 2025 Edition. UMN Twin Cities received a perfect Green Rating score of 99, making it one of the top eco-friendly institutions. This rating evaluates universities based on campus sustainability, student life, and how well schools prepare students for careers in the clean-energy economy. This achievement emphasizes UMN's dedication to creating an environmentally conscious campus and providing students with a sustainable future. Discover how UMN Twin Cities is making a positive impact on campus and our planet!

The University of Minnesota's upcoming Climate Literacy Teach-In event is on November 14th from 11am-2pm. This events aims to engage students and faculty in meaningful discussions about climate change. With interactive activities, expert-led discussions, and a kickoff breakfast hosted by the Learning Abroad Center, participants will have the opportunity to deepen their understanding of climate issues and learn practical actions they can take. Additionally, a self-guided climate conversation activity allows individuals to facilitate discussions anywhere and anytime, emphasizing the importance of personal climate stories to drive climate awareness and change.

Green Labs Open House.png
Green Labs Open House events

Are you interested in learning more about lab sustainability efforts on campus and the new UMN Green Labs Certification Program and how to green your lab? Have you wondered how you could save energy in your lab and lower costs? Join one of two upcoming Green Labs Open House events co-hosted by the Office of Sustainability and the College of Biological Sciences. Learn more
 Register

This fall, the University of Minnesota’s FM Landcare team is planting 105 climate-adaptable trees across campus to diversify the landscape and increase resilience against pests. The trees being planted include a mix of borderline hardy species, new varieties for the campus, and reliable or native trees. Sourced from the campus gravel bed nursery, these trees are easy to plant and acclimate quickly to their environment. Learn more about the tree varieties and discover climate-resilient options for your own yard in this story map publication from the UMN Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.

This fall, the University of Minnesota’s Office of Sustainability is hosting a series of educational and engaging events to help deepen your knowledge of sustainability, climate change, and actions you can take on campus and beyond. With insightful Coffee Chats featuring experts and a hands-on Climate Literacy Teach-In, these events provide a great opportunity to connect with professionals, learn from your peers, and take steps toward a greener future. From ice core research to food security on campus, each session provides a new insight on different sustainability topics.

All events are free and open to the anyone that attends the University of Minnesota. Don’t miss out—mark your calendars, grab your coffee, and join us in working toward a more sustainable campus!

Resilience Plan now available

The Climate Resilience Plan, addendum to the 2023 Climate Action Plan, is now available.

Learn more   See the Plan