Community Reuse Days - Spring 2013

Spring might be a little late, but Community Reuse Days is always right on time! Get into Spring Cleaning mode to clear out some space in your garage, attic, and basement, as we give the entire MSU community a green option for getting rid of unwanted items.

During Earth Week (starting on Earth Day), we will be collecting all reusable and recyclable items from faculty, staff, students, and alumni. Collections will be be Monday, April 22 through Friday, April 26 from 7am to 3pm, as well as Saturday, April 27 from 9am to 1pm. The week will end with special Public Sale hours (featuring items from Morrill Hall) on Saturday from 9am to 2pm.

Documents for destruction (confidential shred), electronics, and more will be accepted at no charge. Typical items include appliances, media, decorations, knick knacks, sporting equipment, apparel, and furniture (no mattresses please). Items received at the event will be recycled, resold, or donated to a non-profit organization. As with everything we collect, the landfill is always a last resort.

Proceeds from re-sold items support the Center’s continuing increase of materials collected from campus and the community. As a result of past Community Reuse Days, we’ve been able to expand recycling opportunities of colored glass (all colors now accepted) at the Recycling Drop-off Center and implement a pilot polystyrene (Styrofoam) recycling program on campus. We are currently looking into solutions for recycling alkaline batteries.

Donations will be accepted at the north dock of the MSU Surplus Store & Recycling Center from 7am to 3pm from Monday, April 22 through Friday, April 26 and 9am to 1pm Saturday, April 27. More details can be found on our website.

Community Reuse Days

October 8-13, 2012

Monday to Friday 7am to 3pm and Saturday 9am to 1 pm

The MSU Surplus Store & Recycling Center strives to engage the community by providing sustainable solutions for the disposal of unwanted materials.  By partnering with the University community, we are able to advance waste reduction initiatives and promote environmental stewardship.

MSU Community Reuse Days are an opportunity for students, faculty, staff and alumni to take an active role in helping develop sustainable solutions by dropping off unwanted household items to the Surplus Store.  All material collected is resold, reused or recycled and the proceeds from the sale of re-sellable items helps support our efforts to increase materials collected from campus and the community

As a result of past Community Reuse Days, we’ve been able to expand recycling opportunities of colored glass (all colors accepted) at the Recycling Drop-off Center and implement a pilot polystyrene (Styrofoam) recycling program on campus.  We are currently looking into solutions for recycling alkaline batteries.

Community Reuse Days are held each fall and spring.  Upcoming days are October 8 through the 13th.  Hours are Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and on Saturday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Materials Accepted:

• E-waste and household electronics:
  • Personal computers, keyboards and mouses, TV's, monitors, telephones, cell phones, laptops, VCR's, printers, scanners, microwaves, copy machines and small items such as coffee makers, vacuums and toasters.
• Good, usable furniture (no mattresses)
• Sporting goods including bicycles and exercise equipment
• Books, magazines, DVD's and CD's
• Scrap metal
• Appliances
• Holiday decorations
• Knick knacks and trinkets
• Kitchen items
• Styrofoam (Polystyrene)

Not Currently Accepted:

• Hazadous waste
• Alkaline batteries
• Chemicals
• Cleaning Supplies
• Mattresses
• Clothing
• Modular Furniture Panels

Unloading assistance will be provided and we will be offering free paper shredding. Community Reuse Days are for personal use only. Businesses are encouraged to contact one of the many e-waste recycling providers in the mid-Michigan area.

Styrofoam (Polystyrene) Collection

Please place Styrofoam in a clear plastic bag.  Please rinse off and remove food waste.
Acceptable items include:

• Foam cups and containers.
• Foam egg cartons
• Foam trays
• Most packaging foam – molded forms and shapes
• Bulk packaging foam used in computers, electronics, etc.
• Packaging peanuts (bag separately from other foam)

We cannot accept:

• Process flame-retardant material (i.e. pink or blue insulation foam)
• Expanded plastic packaging material (a sponge-like material that resembles foam)

How to get rid of junk

Having more stuff than space can be a real problem. Here are your best options, in order:

1. Reuse or repurpose
Thanks to Pinterest, the world is full of more DIY and craft ideas than ever. In a lot of cases, transforming something doesn't even involve work, just re-thinking the way something can be useful.

2. Donate or share
If it's something you really don't want, or don't have space for, give it to someone else! If you don't have a friend, relative, coworker, or random acquaintance who could make use of your stuff, and you're associated with MSU (faculty, staff, student, alumni, retiree), you can take advantage of our Community Reuse Days, coming up October 8-13. If you're not associated with MSU in any way, you can still donate items to Goodwill, Salvation Army, or other consignment shops in the area.

3. Recycle or compost
The MSU Recycling Drop-off Center accepts pretty much every material except food, paper towels and napkins, and polystyrene (Styrofoam). Most food waste and paper products are compostable, and we will be collecting polystyrene at the next Community Reuse Days.

4. Landfill
If you're really, really, really sure the item can't be repurposed, donated, or recycled, throwing it away is an absolute last resort.