- The University of Sheffield and Sheffield Students’ Union have collected over 5,000 donated items - including kitchenware, books and clothes - from moving students to distribute for free to new and returning students next term
- The campaign expands on a successful 'Free Shop' initiative that has distributed over 11,500 kitchen items since 2021, helping to reduce environmental waste and save students money
- To manage the high volume of waste generated by tens of thousands of students moving out at the same time, the university is working with Sheffield Hallam University and Sheffield City Council to organise extra waste collections, volunteer-led street clean-ups, and clear recycling guidance between June 22 and July 6
Students in Sheffield have donated thousands of items to be reused by other students, as part of the University of Sheffield’s end-of-term campaign to reduce waste and keep useful items in circulation.
The Pass it on campaign, organised jointly between the University and Sheffield Students’ Union, encourages students moving out of accommodation to donate items they no longer need, so they can be given to new students through Free Shops at the start of the next academic year.
The campaign has already received over 5,000 items donations from students, including kitchenware, homeware, books, clothes and other useful items. All donations will be made available to students when they arrive or return to Sheffield in the new academic year.
The campaign builds on the University’s existing Free Shop activity, which has given out more than 11,500 kitchenware items to students since 2021, helping students save money while reducing unnecessary waste. Kitchen items will also be loaned to international students studying in Sheffield for a short period over summer to reduce the need for them to purchase new items.
The Pass it on campaign forms part of the University’s wider work to make reuse and circularity the norm across campus, supporting the aims of its Environmental Sustainability Strategy to reduce waste, make better use of resources and minimise environmental impact.
Anna James, Sustainability & Development Officer at Sheffield Students’ Union, said: “Moving out at the end of term can create a lot of waste, but many of the items students no longer need can be reused by someone else. Our Pass it on campaign is about making that as easy as possible. By donating useful items, students can help others save money, reduce waste and make sure good-quality items stay in use for longer.
“We have been really pleased with the response so far, with over 5,000 donations received. These items will be given back to students through our Free Shops in the new academic year, building on the success of the scheme which has already helped thousands of students access free kitchenware and other useful items.”
The University is also working with Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield City Council, and charities to support students and local communities during the busy end-of-term move-out period.
This includes communications to students about how to donate items, pass useful goods on, use recycling bins correctly and use Sheffield City Council’s excess waste collection scheme only as a last resort, after items have been reused, donated or recycled wherever possible.
Each summer, tens of thousands of students move house in Sheffield, which can place additional pressure on local streets, waste services and residents in areas with high numbers of student properties.
James Merryclough, Sustainability Programme Lead at the University of Sheffield, added: “We know this can be a challenging time of year for local residents. Most students move out responsibly, donating, recycling and disposing of waste correctly, but the scale of tenancy changeover, when tens of thousands of students across Sheffield move house within a few weeks, means issues can still arise. Our aim is to work with partners to reduce the amount of waste created, make sure as much as possible is reused or recycled, and help get streets cleaned up quickly where problems do occur.
“We are encouraging students to use their normal bins properly, follow Sheffield’s recycling rules and only use the Council’s excess waste collection service for anything that cannot be reused, donated or recycled.”
From 22 June - 6 July, additional waste collections will be undertaken in streets with high numbers of student residents. The University will also be carrying out street cleans and checks around the tenancy changeover period, working with student volunteers to look out for overflowing bins, litter and other issues in areas with high numbers of student properties.
Students can find information about moving out, donating items, recycling and using waste collections correctly on the University website: