The Second-hand Shuffle is a waste reduction initiative intended to re-house quality items no longer wanted by students, which would otherwise go to landfill. This event targets Queen’s students, who are encouraged to bring in their unwanted items and take other available items. Community members are also welcome to take items during specific event times. All items are free, which removes financial barriers and provides equal access to all participants. This is especially impactful for the students who are making the transition from residence to living off-campus. Thus, providing a designated place to drop off a variety of items reduces the likelihood of illegal dumping on- and off-campus. Additionally, local charities in Kingston will be invited to pick up items on designated days.
Current event details
New event location: MacGillivray-Brown Hall - 218 Barrie Street
Event breakdown
April 21 - 25, 11am - 3pm (student drop-off only, no furniture, mini fridges accepted.)
April 29 - 30, 11am - 5pm (Drop off and pick up only for students)
May 1, 11am - 5pm (pickup only, all welcome)
Accepted items
Only items that are functioning and unsoiled. We are unable to accept broken items.
- Furniture (couches, chairs, desks, tables, etc.) only accepted April 29 and 30
- Household items (chairs, lamps, décor, laundry bins, coat hangers, etc.)
- Small Appliances (Mini fridges, toasters, microwaves, blenders, etc.)
- Kitchenware (Pots, pans, plates, utensils, slow cookers, rice cookers, mugs, etc.)
- Electronics (laptops, printers, etc.)
- Office/School supplies (text books, paper, calculators, staplers, etc.)
- Clothing
- Linens (Towels, bed sheets, comforters)
- Non-perishable (unopened) food items
Not accepted items:
- Any items that are not functioning and/or are soiled
- Mattresses
- Mattress pads
The 2024 event saw impressive participation, with 2,560 items donated, weighing a total of 9,096 kilograms. These items were valued at approximately $126,000, offering significant savings to recipients. Accurate weight and cost data from online sources emphasized the event's success, despite limitations in tracking methods.
Challenges arose compared to the 2023 Drop and Swap event, which collected 4,818 items weighing 19,600 kilograms, valued at $190,000. The timing of the 2024 event, just after the last day of exams and post-residence move-out weekend, impacted donation volumes.
A key highlight is the event's impact on Scope 3 emissions. It was determined that 47.5 tons of CO2 emissions were avoided, which is equivalent to the annual emissions of approximately 103 passenger vehicles. This substantial reduction contributes to the event's overall success in promoting sustainability.
The Secondhand Shuffle continues to demonstrate the potential of sustainable living practices, contributing to a circular economy and reducing waste. For the second consecutive year, it prevented significant waste, provided free goods to students and staff, and supported second-hand institutions in Kingston.
The success of the 2023 Drop and Swap event was evident in the substantial quantity of donated items. During the three-day event, a total of 4818 items were confirmed, with a combined overall weight of approximately 19,600 kilograms. The weight distribution by category can be seen in Figure 1. Moreover, the value of the donated items, based on current market prices, was around $190,000, signifying a notable cost-saving for those who acquired items instead of buying them new. The cost distribution can be seen in Figure 2. Despite the limitations of the tally sheet methodology, the readily available weight and cost data on the internet helped to ensure the reported statistics were reasonably accurate, demonstrating the success of the initiative.
Furthermore, a comprehensive analysis was undertaken to assess the impact of the Drop and Swap program on Scope 3 emissions, specifically focusing on embodied carbon. By considering the weights of the items collected during the event and utilizing credible emissions data from similar items, we were able to estimate that an impressive 46.62 tons of CO2 emissions were successfully averted over the course of the three-day event. To gain further insight into the distribution of these prevented emissions, Figure 3 presents a breakdown by category, highlighting the significant strides made in reducing our carbon footprint.
Overall, the Drop and Swap initiative's success in 2023 shows the potential of sustainable living practices, promoting a circular economy and reducing waste generation. The event prevented a substantial amount of waste from ending up in landfills, provided students and staff access to free goods, and made significant donations to various second-hand institutions in Kingston.
