07/21/2025
A sustainable back-to-school sale is coming to the SUNY Cortland campus, allowing students to start the year off “green.”
From Thursday, Aug. 21, to Saturday, Aug. 23, during move-in weekend, students will be able to shop the Red Dragon ReUse pop-up sale in the Outdoor Pursuits garage at the Student Life Center.
The three-day event takes place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“After three successful years of collecting donations, we are excited to take the next step in our partnership with Cortland ReUse,” said SUNY Cortland Chief Sustainability Officer Matt Brubaker. “With the Red Dragon ReUse sale, everyone wins. Students can purchase gently used items for their rooms at a great price, and Cortland ReUse is able to use the money from the sales to help the Cortland community.”
The sale includes area rugs, storage drawers, trash cans, desk lamps, mirrors and more.
The 2025 Red Dragon ReUse donation collection was the biggest one to date, with an estimated 40 tons worth of items donated and diverted from landfills.
“Red Dragons know the importance of donating,” said Carrie Narrow, executive director of Cortland ReUse, a community run nonprofit organization. “Now we want to encourage them to reuse.”
Whether students wait to do their back-to-school shopping once they’re on campus or just need to pick up a few items they forgot, the sale will have something for everyone.
“This is a full circle moment for this initiative and creating a circular economy at SUNY Cortland,” said Megan Swing, the university’s energy and sustainability engagement coordinator. “Students can start the school year with responsible consumption and end it with responsible disposal by donating back to Cortland ReUse.”