The UC Davis Aggie Reuse Store has been providing students with low cost goods for a year now. The store, which aims to increase the awareness of creative alternatives for waste, was created by Design professor Ann Savageau, Design graduate student Carol Shu, Textiles and Clothing graduate student Margot Bennett, and Associated Student Senator Darwin Moosavi. The resale store, which exists entirely from donations, is located on the first floor of the Memorial Union and serves as an example of UC Davis' commitment to environmental awareness and sustainability.

Savageau is a member of the campus Waste Diversion Planning Committee, a group committed to a zero waste initiative for the university. To help achieve this initiative, the Reuse Store was created to "collect and redirect gently used items and promote environmental awareness through creative reuse of these discarded materials," said co-founder Bennett.

"The Reuse Store relies on donations, so we encourage students, staff and campus departments to donate used materials before heading to the dumpster," shares Bennett. Proceeds from sales are re-invested into the store, with additional revenue going towards reuse workshops that focus on creative ways to find alternative uses for waste. The Reuse Store is also involved in on-campus repurposing projects, led by student volunteers, who also run the store.

Support has also come from a Dining Commons Go Green Grant which has provided funding for more workshops and the transportation of goods to and from the store. A partnership with UC Davis Student Housing and the Facilities and Land Management group has opened up more opportunities for donations. "This is a pilot year for the partnership and could be a model for diverting future waste streams," added Bennett.

The Aggie Reuse Store is a pioneer for its kind and one of the few reuse stores in the UC system. It has successfully partnered with the Davis campus and community, and hopes that other UC campuses will be inspired to begin developing their own sustainable stores.

For more information, or to get a great buy or make a donation, check out the Aggie Reuse Store Facebook page and website. One person's waste is another's treasure.

This is just another example of what makes UC Davis America's 'Coolest School'.