Think SWAP Shop for Spring Cleaning

Isn’t it time to clean-up and organize your desk, office or lab and get a fresh start for spring? We thought so. Then think about what materials could be useful to others on campus and head over to the SWAP Shop in S3-209.

Activity has been steady at the shop, and more items are always needed.  “The glassware has been flying off the shelves,” said Suzanne Wood, sustainability and energy manager at UMass Chan. “People are using the shop every day, so we always need more inventory.”

SWAP, otherwise known as “Surplus With A Purpose,” promotes the reuse of supplies and equipment on campus. UMass Chan Medical School students, faculty and staff are encouraged to bring surplus office supplies, small furniture, or laboratory equipment to the SWAP Shop so others on campus can put the items to good use. Home goods are not accepted.helves,” said Suzanne Wood, sustainability and energy manager at UMass Chan. “People are using the shop every day, so we always need more inventory.”

The shop is open during regular business/school hours and operates on the honor system. People can drop off items at their convenience. When taking an item from the shop, people are asked to make note of it in the log book.

“People should make sure to check what kind of toner cartridges they need for their printers before coming to the shop,” Wood said. “We have a lot of cartridges, and I expect many could be reused.”

The SWAP Shop accepts office and lab equipment and supplies, but no chemicals, biologicals, isotopes, or needles. Any lab equipment must be appropriately decontaminated before being transported and dropped off at the shop. Large pieces of furniture or major capital items are not included. Those items can still be repurposed, but should be handled through the UMass Chan Purchasing Department’s asset moving policy.