If you had happened to pass through the doors of University Hall on a recent Tuesday morning, you would have come across a short lineup of students and staff waiting patiently in the lobby.
They were there to check out Thrift McGill, a new sustainability initiative run by Student Housing and Hospitality Services and supported by the Sustainability Projects Fund.
“I think it’s a really good idea,” said one student in line. “There might be things you need that other students have to leave behind. It’s a great community-building exercise.”
Inspired by similar initiatives at the University of Ottawa and the University of British Columbia, Thrift McGill aims to reduce campus waste by collecting items that are no longer needed and redistributing them – free of charge – to students and staff who can use them.
It held its first event in October, which saw 300 items taken by 200 attendees. Since then, it has been open on an ad hoc basis, redistributing over 1,000 donated items to hundreds of happy customers.
“The feedback we’ve received has been really positive,” said Daniel Fournier, Associate Director, Residence Life at Student Housing and Hospitality Services. “Everyone is excited about this initiative, because everyone sees the need for it to exist.”
Searching for a sustainable solution
Approximately 3,200 students reside in McGill’s downtown residences, and many more live in the surrounding Milton Parc neighbourhood. When those students move out, their unwanted items often end up in landfills.
“Waste is a huge problem in and around residences,” said Fournier. “Every year I’d move students out and have to get rid of items they no longer needed. We needed to find an in-house solution and a place for these items to go, and our main motivation was sustainability.”
With the support of its senior leadership, Student Housing spent the summer of 2024 preparing for the launch of a free thrift store, which included submitting an application to the Sustainability Projects Fund to cover staffing and equipment costs.
Overseen by the McGill Office of Sustainability, the SPF has allocated $12 million to support more than 370 sustainability-focused projects over the past 15 years. McGill students, staff and faculty are welcome to submit their own projects, which could qualify for anywhere from under $300 to over $100,000 in support.
“Thrift McGill is building a culture of sustainability on campus by providing a fun and easy way to reduce waste,” said Shona Watt, Associate Director, McGill Office of Sustainability. “We are thrilled for their success, and we can’t wait to see what our community members will come up with next.”
Future plans
Despite its initial success, Thrift McGill isn’t resting on its laurels.
Next, it plans to distribute donation boxes around the downtown campus, increase the shop’s hours and, potentially, take on volunteers. It also will be preparing for McGill’s move-out period at the end of April, which is notoriously peak season for students leaving behind unwanted items.
In the meantime, Fournier is grateful for the outpouring of support the initiative has already received.
“I don’t think anyone was expecting it to generate so much interest,” he said. “Being able to successfully reduce waste is gratifying, and it’s a testament to all the students and staff who believe in sustainability.”
For more information, visit the Thrift McGill webpage, follow them on Instagram, or contact thriftmcgill@mcgill.ca.