Over 7,000 plates, pans and kitchenware items avoid landfill through University of Sheffield Free Shops
Mugs, plates and cookware that could have gone in landfill found new home with this year’s Freshers
Over 7,000 household items have been given away to students through two University of Sheffield Free Shops, helping freshers save money on essentials while keeping useful goods out of the waste stream.
The Free Shops, run by the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Students’ Union, gave new and returning students the chance to pick up household and kitchen essentials including plates, mugs, pans and other useful items, all free of charge.
The items were donated by students and members of the University community as part of the University and Students’ Union’s Pass It On campaign, which encourages people to donate good-quality belongings they no longer need so they can be used again.
Additionally, Sheffield’s two universities claim they send “extensive communications” at the end of each academic year to keep students from throwing away thousands of items that would be fit for rehoming or charity shops.
It comes after residents complained in 2024 and 2025 about huge amounts of household items were heaped on walls outside accommodations by students moving out.
James Merryclough, Sustainability Programme Lead at the University of Sheffield, said: “Instead of gathering dust or ending up in the bin, more than 7,000 items have been given a second life with our students.
“Reusing existing goods cuts environmental impact and offers vital savings for those setting up a new home.
"Our goal is to make donating unwanted items second nature across campus, keeping useful goods in circulation and driving down student living costs."
Anna James, Sustainability and Development Officer at Sheffield Students’ Union, said: “Starting university or moving into a new home can be expensive, so the Free Shops are a brilliant way of helping students get some of the essentials they need without having to buy everything new.
“It’s also really positive to see students supporting each other by donating items they no longer need so that someone else can make use of them.”
The Free Shops are part of an ongoing approach to reuse across the University of Sheffield, with students and staff able to donate suitable items through Pass It On collection points throughout the year.
Donations are redistributed through future Free Shops, helping to keep useful household goods in circulation and reducing the environmental impact of buying new items.
The University and Students’ Union are encouraging students to donate belongings they no longer need, particularly when preparing to move home at the end of the academic year.