Great Stuff Exchange
The Great Stuff Exchange (GSX) is an office supplies giveaway program. PSPM collects items from departments that cannot use them anymore and makes them available for students, staff, and faculty – for free!
Source reduction is the prevention of waste before it is even created. It means avoiding unnecessary purchases and only purchasing items when truly necessary that are designed with durability, toxicity, and end of life disposal, or recycling, in mind. Source reduction is the #1 way to keep waste out of landfills and helps keep valuable resources in circulation.
When we cannot reduce, the next best thing is to reuse. We can all promote reuse as a better alternative to recycling. It is a smart, viable action that any person or department to take at UIC and at home. Reuse also saves your department and the university valuable financial and material resources.
Can't wait for our next GSX event in September? Come shop early by scheduling an appointment with recycling@uic.edu.
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Receiving Items
Typically, items up for grabs include:
- Binders
- Hanging file folders
- File folders
- Desktop supplies (In/Out boxes, filing sets, mailboxes)
- Toner and ink cartridges
- Electronics (keyboards, mice, cords, cables, and devices)
- Office machines (three-hole punches, staplers, pencil sharpeners)
- Media (writeable CDs or DVDs)
- Office supplies (writing instruments, envelopes, post-it notes, paper)
We also have listed laboratory supplies to use if you work in a UIC research laboratory.
All items are free and can be picked up by scheduling an appointment by emailing recycling@uic.edu.
While all items are free, we ask that you:
- Take only what you or your department can use
- Keep things you’ve taken but can’t use out of the waste stream by returning it to us for someone else to use
Donating Items
Departments wishing to donate items to the Great Stuff Exchange program can make arrangements to drop off acceptable materials to Planning, Sustainability and Project Management by emailing recycling@uic.edu. All donated items must be clean and in working condition. Please submit the form below prior to drop off.
Acceptable Materials
- Appointment books and calendars
- Binders, notebooks and paper
- Bookends and vertical files
- CD’s, DVD’s, jewel cases
- Desktop/mouse pads and organizers
- Drawer organizers
- Envelopes and file folders
- Inkjet, laser, fax and copier toner cartridges
- Unused greeting cards
- Name tag olders
- Rolodex boxes and ards, index cards
- Scissors, staplers, and hole Punchers
- Pens, pencils, lead and ink refills
- Report covers and sheet protectors
- Storage boxes, cases, files and racks
Unacceptable Materials
- Clothing, shoes, and furniture
- Hazardous waste
- Large equipment
- Anything with a university “PTag”
- Broken items