UVM’s Office of Sustainability is pleased to announce the reopening of its Surplus Property Sales Program this spring, marking a new chapter for the long-running campus sustainability initiative. 

After several years on hiatus, the program, which is open to the public, will resume operations in a new location at Fort Ethan Allen in Essex on Tuesday, April 14 with weekly sales resuming on Tuesday, May 5.  

The surplus property program collects, redistributes, and sells used but functional items from across the university, including desks, chairs, shelving, office supplies, cabinetry, and other furnishings. These items are made available to UVM departments, students, and the general public at low cost. 

“The Surplus Property Program helps us fulfill our mission of finding a second home for useful items rather than sending them to the landfill,” said Corey Berman, Recycling and Zero Waste Program Coordinator at UVM. “It’s also a key component of the university’s Comprehensive Sustainability Plan, supporting our waste reduction goals, while advancing a more circular campus economy.” 

Prior to the pandemic, the program operated out of the Wheelock Barn on Spear Street in South Burlington. However, the former dairy barn lacked heat and electricity, limiting accessibility and usability for customers. The program was paused during COVID-19, and subsequent evaluations determined that the building was no longer suitable for continued use. 

A listserv, which is also open to the public, has been used in the intervening years. It grew to over 1,500 members and facilitated many successful direct exchanges of items as small as paper clips and as large as desks. The listserv will continue as a complement to the brick-and-mortar store. 

The new facility at Fort Ethan Allen in Essex Junction offers a more accessible and functional space, allowing the university to once again expand its efforts to promote reuse and reduce waste.  

The grand reopening on April 14 will be from 12:00-2:00 p.m. at 320 Payne Street. Regular sale hours will resume every Tuesday beginning May 5 from 12:00-1:00 pm and by appointment. Photos of many currently available items and examples of commonly available items are posted online. Payment options are cash, check, or chartstring. 

For more information, visit the Surplus Website.