11/14/2025
Before they head home for winter break, students have a chance to prevent waste and give happy holidays to those in need.
SUNY Cortland’s Sustainability Office will once again partner with local nonprofit Cortland ReUse to bring a Red Dragon ReUse event to campus at the end of the fall semester.
This follows a successful ReUse sale to kick off the school year that helped divert up to 45 tons of waste from landfills, winning a nonprofit sector award from the New York State Association for Reduction, Reuse and Recycling.
For two weeks starting on Monday, Dec. 1, students can leave usable items in black donation bins placed in residence halls. There will be separate totes where students can donate unspoiled, unopened food, which will go to the SUNY Cortland Cupboard.
Off-campus donors are encouraged to take their items directly to Cortland ReUse, located at 186 Homer Ave., Cortland. Those who would like to donate but are unable to get to the store can contact the campus Sustainability Office.
“Over the years we have noticed students part ways with a lot of stuff at the end of the semester, even in the fall when they aren’t moving out,” said Matthew Brubaker, the university’s chief sustainability officer and energy manager.
“We want to make sure as little usable items are going in the landfill as possible. Plus, students can give back to the Cortland community right before the holidays, so it’s a win-win.”
The ReUse sale and other initiatives like the peer-to-peer SUNY Cortland Green Reps have made SUNY Cortland a consistent leader in environmental action. Last spring, the university earned a Silver rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education.
Recently, the university again earned a spot in the Princeton Review’s annual Guide to Green Colleges after last appearing in 2022.
Cortland received 89 out of a possible 99 points in its review. These scores were determined based on a 25-question survey examining an institution’s sustainability-related policies, practices and programs along with student surveys about support for environmental awareness and conservation efforts on the campus.
“We are delighted to have been included in the ranking,” said Beth Klein, SUNY distinguished service professor of science education and the university’s sustainability coordinator. “We are looking forward to continuing our efforts that got SUNY Cortland back on the list this year.”