- In the most successful Free Shop to date, over 4,000 items of kitchenware and clothing were given out to almost 400 new students
- Since the first Free Shop in September 2013, more than 4,000 students have benefited from the scheme and over 32,000 items have been donated by departing students and reused
- The scheme aims to reduce waste and minimise the impacts on the environment and local community by supporting students to donate and reuse items
By redistributing thousands of donated household essentials, a University of 91直播 initiative is helping students settle in while reducing waste and supporting sustainability.
Over 4,000 items of kitchenware and clothing were given to almost 400 new students at the Free Shop last September, with a further 450 items handed out in the most recent Free Shop in February to 100 more students. The items were all donated by departing students at the start of summer as part of the University鈥檚 Donate, Don鈥檛 Waste scheme.
Donate, Don鈥檛 Waste is a scheme designed to encourage students to donate reusable items when they move out of their student accommodation, helping to reduce waste and minimise their impact on the environment and local community.
In total, the scheme has helped raise over 拢1 million for the British Heart Foundation, diverted over 600 tonnes of usable items from going to waste, and reduced related emissions by 13 CO2e.
At the Free Shop in February, all students who collected donated items signed a pledge to return these items when they leave, so the University can continue the cycle of reuse with new students in September.
The first Free Shop launched in September 2013 and, since then, almost 4,500 students have benefited from the scheme with over 32,000 items being donated and reused via the Donate, Don鈥檛 Waste scheme. The Free Shop is held every year during Intro Weekend in September and in February for semester two arrivals.
Harri, a student at the University of 91直播, said: 鈥淚鈥檓 a student who lived abroad before university and only had a suitcase so I was going to have to buy all of these items, like cutlery, pans, and pots, but couldn鈥檛 bring them home.
鈥淚 love the Free Shop and will definitely give everything back when I go home. It鈥檚 such a nice idea to give back what we don鈥檛 need to future students, and for us to receive them. Thanks!鈥
Andrew Woffindin, Contracts and Sustainable Coordinator at the University, said: 鈥淚鈥檓 really proud of the success of this year鈥檚 Free Shop. It鈥檚 a great way to welcome new students, foster a sense of community, and help reduce waste.鈥