Each year, school classrooms and closets fill up with supplies, books, equipment and curriculum that are no longer needed — materials that everyone would rather see reused than thrown away.
But getting it into someone else’s hands is a project of its own. It shouldn’t have to fall on teachers and administrators to figure it out alone.
Reduce Waste Chicago’s School Cleanout program is a roadmap for schools that turns surplus or gently used supplies into resources for other families, schools and nonprofits, and keeps them out of the landfill.
The problem we solve
Donating unneeded materials for reuse takes more than good intentions. It means sorting through what’s there, packing it up, identifying the right recipients, coordinating volunteers, arranging transportation, and figuring out what can be recycled when reuse isn’t possible.
That’s a lot of logistics to manage on top of everything else already on a school’s plate, which is why so many usable supplies sometimes end up in the trash. It’s not a lack of care; it’s a missing process. It’s also a gap that costs money and misses a chance to model reuse and responsibility for students.
What schools gain
By conducting a Reduce Waste Chicago School Cleanout, you’ll discover:
- A living lesson in sustainability, as your community sees firsthand where “extra” supplies can go
- More space and calmer classrooms, once the clutter is gone
- Real savings, by reusing what you already have instead of buying new
- Less waste, as materials go to reuse and recycling instead of the trash
How it works
We build the process to be simple on your end:
- Plan: Whether it’s a closet or an entire school, we build a custom plan together and support your point person in leading the effort.
- Collect & Sort: Your team of students, teachers and volunteers (with a little help from us) gather, sort and count what’s ready to go.
- Packup & Pickup: Volunteers help us pack up and pick up on a schedule that works for your school.
- Reuse & Donate: Supplies find new homes back in your building through a Take Table or Reuse Closet, and beyond it through local nonprofit partners.
We also help keep the momentum going by creating Reuse Closets, establishing continuous collections and reviewing school supply lists.
Proof it works
This year, we helped clean out Tubman Elementary and two overflow closets at Nettelhorst School — proof that even a small commitment can free up space and keep good materials in use.
Coonley 2022
877 students
Multiple days
95 boxes donated
Coonley 2023
722 students
20+ boxes donated
1 Reuse Closet filled
Tubman 2026
282 students
1,519 lbs. of supplies donated
1,300 lbs. of paper recycled
Nettelhorst 2026
2 closets purged
1,702+ lbs. of supplies donated
600 lbs. of paper recycled
Ready to reclaim space at your school?
Tell us a bit about your school, challenges your facing or questions you have. It takes about 2 minutes. We’ll be in touch within a few days and there is no commitment required.
You don’t have to navigate the pathway to reuse on your own. Reduce Waste Chicago is here as your partner, every step of the way.
Who, exactly, is supposed to make reuse happen?
During the first week of August, school supplies were placed in dumpsters as former Acero charter schools were emptied as part of their transition to CPS, leaving neighbors rummaging to reclaim reusable materials.
Read our Letter to the Editor at the Chicago Tribune
calling for collaboration and funding for the infrastructure that already exists.