Recycle, Compost, & Zero Waste

Clean & Swap

Clean & Swap is an annual event when Pitt employees and graduate students can clear out unwanted office and laboratory items, then “shop” among the items for free! All donated items will find new homes with other Pitt departments, via Pitt Surplus, or with local nonprofits.

By reusing office supplies, departments can save resources (of all kinds) and reduce waste to the landfill. Since 2020, Pitt has diverted over 8 tons (16,083 pounds) of office and medical supplies through Clean & Swap.

The 2026 Clean & Swap event is on Wednesday, May 20 and Thursday, May 21, from 9:30 am – 3:30 pm at O'Hara Student Center.

Learn more and Register

Accepted Items

Office Materials

  • Furniture: Desks, chairs, tables, etc.
    • Contact Pitt Surplus for large items 
    • Due to health and safety concerns, we are unable to accept rugs and upholstered furniture (couches, futons)
  • Electronics: Desktop printers, laptops, monitors, CPUs, peripherals (mice, keyboards, cables, etc.), phones, cameras, etc. 
  • Office Supplies: folders, binders, paper, ink & toner, clipboards, paper and binder clips, pens, markers, etc. 
  • Office Essentials: filing cabinets, organizational items, dry erase boards, desk lamps, plants, wall decor, etc 
  • Kitchenette Items: coffee makers, microwaves, toasters, cutlery and dishware, mini-fridges, etc 
  • Textiles: clothing, shoes, other fabrics 
  • Books

Medical Supplies

  • Canes
  • Crutches
  • Walkers
  • Wheelchairs (manual only)
  • Shower chairs/benches
  • Nebulizer machines and accessories
  • Incontinence supplies
  • Portable suction pumps
  • Blood pressure monitors (home use, non-mercury)
  • Medical Supplies (unopened, unused, do not expire for 13 months)
    • Syringes (with and without needles)
    • Ostomy supplies
    • Wound care supplies (bandages, gauze, etc)
    • Other (please contact prior to dropping off)

Lab Supplies

  • Unused Consumables: Pipette tips, serological pipettes, conical tubes, petri dishes, plates, racks, gloves, gowns, masks, etc.
  • Sterilized durable lab glass and plasticware (flasks, bottles, etc)

NEW for 2026 Specialty Recycling:

  • Styrofoam
  • Plastic film
  • Pipette tip boxes and refill wafers

All donations must be unused. Although Global Links doesn't accept expired products we will be collecting them to redistribute to other departments.

Staff person from The Education Partnership holds a box of donated items
Donate Your Office Items

Clean & Swap 2026

The 2026 Clean & Swap will take place on Wednesday, May 20 and Thursday, May 21, from 9:30 am – 3:30 pm, at the O'Hara Student Center Dining Room. Please register for your drop off time and view the list of accepted supplies by clicking the button below.
 

Learn More
Clean & Swap Partners

Clean & Swap is a cross-campus and regional partnership, including the following organizations who accept the materials year-round, reducing waste and supporting communities near and far.

Global Links

Non-profit organization that rescues high-quality surplus medical supplies and furniture from U.S. hospitals to support health systems in resource-poor communities globally and locally.

Learn About Global Links
Surplus Property

University of Pittsburgh's official department for collecting, storing, and selling used University items, such as furniture, electronics, and vehicles.

Learn About Pitt Surplus
The Education Partnership

Non-profit organization that provides school supplies to students and teachers in under-resourced schools across Southwestern PA.

Learn About The Education Partnership

History of Clean & Swap

2020 – The first Clean & Swap was held, redirecting 728 pounds of unwanted office and laboratory items to other Pitt departments, Pitt Surplus, and the Educational Partnership.

2022 – Clean & Swap helped divert 1.5 tons (3,156 pounds) of office and medical supplies no longer needed by Pitt offices, labs, and departments. An call for donations of unwanted medical supplies for local nonprofit Global Links was added.

2023 – Clean & Swap helped divert 3 tons (6,427 pounds) of office items, medical supplies, and personal electronics from the landfill. Through connections made at Clean & Swap, 7,800 face shields were saved from the landfill by connecting a department with overstock with another department in need.

2024 – Clean & Swap diverted just under 3 tons (5,772 lbs) of lab and medical supplies, office supplies, textiles, and books from the landfill. Over the 2-day event, 165 individuals “shopped” among the items, keeping the majority of items donated right here on campus!