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!
2025 – Clean & Swap diverted 2.8 tons (5,653 lbs) of material from the landfill, including over 30 crates of children’s books and craft supplies. Nearly 100 “shoppers” took items for reuse in their own offices or labs, saving over 650 pounds of office supplies from the landfill.
2026 – Clean & Swap welcomed 210 attendees, 141 of who kept over 660 pounds of lab and office supplies in circulation on campus! A total of 1.3 tons (2,552 lbs) of office supplies, medical supplies, and recycling were kept out of the landfill, including several carts of expired lab and clinical consumables saved for reuse in simulation/teaching labs!