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Circular Economy

The Center for Sustainability manages several programs and events to develop a culture of sharing, repairing, and reusing goods and/or services on campus. Circular economy programs that facilitate waste diversion include but are not limited to Bronco Surplus, the Share Shelf, the Lending Library, and Swap for Good. Check out our offerings.

Year-round Circularity Programs

  • Currency font within the logo for a Facebook group for giving away or receiving free goods.
    Buy Nothing Santa Clara University

    A Facebook group for all Santa Clara University students, faculty, and staff to give, share, borrow, and claim free items or services. 

  • A graphic of hands holding the earth and a leaf. The words, Lending Library, written below
    Lending Library

    The SCU Lending Library is an online site for SCU employees to borrow items shared by other departments. Have a lamination machine you don't often use? Let others borrow it! Need to decorate for an 80's themed event? See if others have decorations you can borrow.

  • Two women holding compost bins in a room titled
    Personal Compost Pails

    In partnership with the Housing Office, the Center for Sustainability offers a free, year-rental compost pail program for campus residents to compost food scraps within their own rooms.

  • Shelves stacked with binders, notebooks, and textbooks
    Share Shelves

    The Supplies Share Shelf serves as a site for students, faculty, and staff to donate and acquire lightly used office and school supplies for free. Our Maternity Share Shelf for expectant parents offers recirculation of clothing and additional baby-related items. 

  • Six stacked Blue Bins to collect waste for TerraCycle recycling
    Terracycle

    A site for collection and recycling items that are otherwise difficult to recycle or dispose of. TerraCycle diverts used products from the landfill through upcycling. The Malley Fitness and Recreation Center and the Center for Sustainability hold collection bins for printer toner cartridges, CD/DVDs, plastic film, batteries, Tom's of Maine, Brita filters, and personal care toiletry containers. 

Annual Circularity Events

  • Bronco Surplus

    Early September, during Welcome Weekend and the Get Connected Resource Fair

    Bronco Surplus is a free pop-up shop in September that offers secondhand room supplies and decor to students. All available items were donated by students during the zero-waste move-out event at the end of the previous school year.

  • A student using a sewing machine on a Maker Night
    Maker Nights

    February

    Maker Night workshops allow prospective EcoFashion Show designers to learn new techniques and get help with sketches or inspiration.

  • EcoFashion Show and Career Panel

    March - During SDG Week

    Join the Center for Sustainability, SCU•Presents, and the Career Center for SCU’s 11th annual EcoFashion Show! This event showcases designs made by SCU community members from upcycled clothing or waste materials. During the career panel portion, speakers from the sustainable fashion industry will share their insights and answer questions. 

  • two students hold up clothes
    Swap for Good

    Early June

    A free pop-up thrift shop where students, staff, and faculty members can swap their used clothes for other items.

  • Zero Waste Move Out

    Early June

    On-campus residents place reusable donations and clothing into big containers, located in their residence hall lobbies, for Hope Services or Bronco Surplus. Residents are also encouraged to place all other items in designated areas around campus, such as e-waste, food, or carpets, to divert waste from the landfill. 

Playbook badges
Participating in circular economy programs helps implement the Sustainability
Strategic Plan. Earn Playbook badges for your efforts!

Navigate here to Earn Sustainability Playbook Badges Earn Sustainability Playbook Badges
View All Sustainability Events on our Calendar