Overview
Reduce, reuse, repeat. Let's build a zero-waste campus together.
The Sustainability Office is excited to launch a pop-up Free Store for the campus community. This program will help to rehome items that are still in usable condition to those that want and need them, such as home goods, kitchenware, school supplies and more. Learn more about what items we'll be collecting, where you can drop off donations, and when and where to find pop-ups across campus.
Upcoming pop-ups
We will announce the Spring term pop-ups shortly - thank you for your patience.
Donations
The Free Store will gladly accept donations of your gently used items. Donations can be dropped off at the Sustainability Office (CPH 2383) on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 10:00am to 3:00pm or by appointment. Donations can also be made at pop-up events. Please email sustainability@uwaterloo.ca to arrange a drop-off or if you have any questions about making a donation.
Acceptable items
All items must be clean and in good working order. Please note that while this list serves as a donation guideline, we reserve the right to refuse any items not suitable for donation.
- Art supplies (e.g. canvases, fabric, paint and brushes, yarn)
- Books
- Entertainment (e.g. board games, cards, toys, video games)
- Electronics (e.g. keyboards, lamps, tabletop fans)
- Home goods/décor (e.g. art prints, picture frames, wall art, trinkets)
- Kitchenware (e.g. cups, plates, utensils, reusable mugs, water bottles, kettles, toasters)
- Office/school supplies (e.g. notebooks, stationery, backpacks)
- Storage (e.g. bins, pencil holders, baskets)
Not accepted items
- University owned items cannot be donated to the Free Store. For more information on asset disposals, please see Policy 74, Capital and Non-Capital Assets.
- Food (Non-perishable items can be donated to WUSA Food Support)
- Furniture or large appliances (Check out Central Stores' surplus program or platforms like Kijiji/Facebook Marketplace instead)
- Hazardous materials (Departments should work with the Safety Office for proper disposal. Do not bring hazardous materials originating from home to campus. They CANNOT be disposed of here and should instead be taken to regional waste disposal sites following all of their guidelines.)
- Knives or other sharp materials
- Shoes (Consider donating to the WUSA Thrift Store)
- Textiles (Consider donating to the WUSA Thrift Store)
- Toiletries