How the Colgate Free Store Advances Campus Sustainability and Equity

Since its grand opening in 2023, the Colgate Free Store has proven to be a shining example of how sustainable practices can improve everyday campus life. By reducing landfill waste and providing equal access to high-demand items, the Free Store demonstrates the three pillars of sustainability, which are environmentalism, social equity, and economic viability.

The Free Store began as a project led by student interns at the Office of Sustainability. After years of research and planning, a pilot opened in the Drake Hall Arch with a mission to distribute potential waste to the student body for free. Many of the items, ranging from clothing to minifridges, are collected in partnership with the COVE Salvage Program during student move-out in May. Around 2,000 pounds of supplies were redistributed in the first year of the program. That number swelled to over 11,000 pounds in the third year following a successful collaboration with new student orientation.

Throughout its lifetime, the Free Store has diverted a total of 16,750 pounds of waste from the Madison County Landfill. This effort helps ensure the landfill's longevity at a time when many facilities are reaching capacity. According to a 2023 report by the New York Department of Environmental Conservation, there is only enough capacity for 16 to 25 years of landfill usage at 2018 disposal levels. The report also calls for an 85% reduction in waste sent to landfills or incinerators by the year 2050. Governments, corporations, and higher education institutions play a vital role in reaching this goal, and the Colgate Free Store serves as a leading model for socially equitable initiatives on university campuses across the country.

Students can learn more about the Free Store on Instagram @ColgateSust or check the Colgate Events calendar for upcoming open hours in the fall and spring.

The Office of Sustainability thanks NYSAR3 for the College Council Grant that supported the expansion of this circular economy project. Additionally, this initiative has relied on the support of many campus partners, including the Max A. Shacknai Center for Outreach, Volunteerism, and Education, First@Colgate, the ALANA Cultural Center, the Office of International Students, and Facilities.