NYU Swap Shop Saves Money and Waste

Student-Led Sustainability

When Global Liberal Studies major Kate Koblegarde first came to NYU from Oregon, she struggled with what to pack. For environmental reasons, she likes to limit what she consumes. But checking bags or mailing boxes to New York was expensive. “It made more sense to buy stuff here. But there was so much I needed to purchase when I arrived,” she recalls.

With NYU drawing students from all over the globe, Kate’s situation wasn’t unique. Likewise, when college students move out, they rarely can take everything with them. Confident moving in and out could be made more sustainable, Kate set out to create change. Two years later, after a United Nations Millennium Fellowship spent researching possible solutions, Kate joined forces with the NYU Office of Sustainability, Student Government, NYU Residential Life, and NYU Grounds to help launch the Swap Shop in fall 2025.

The shop was located inside an NYU building that formerly housed a grocery store and was sitting empty. Led by NYU staff member Misty Germany, Kate and two other NYU interns spent hours cleaning the facility, sorting donations, and stocking shelves. Meanwhile, buzz about the Swap Shop spread quickly. On opening day, lines wrapped around the block. The event drew media coverage ranging from The New Yorker to the evening news.

“I’ve never seen so many happy NYU students. It was so rewarding,” says Kate. “People were curious and excited and hopeful they wouldn’t have to buy as much stuff. When people came inside, some were emotional about how much they could choose from.”

A Way to Save and Give Back

NYU Abu Dhabi student Ingus Dimiševskis was one of the many shop visitors that fall. He was spending just one semester studying in New York City. “Packing was an absolute nightmare because I knew I wasn’t going to be able to take everything I needed,” he recalls. “I was definitely relying on some hand-me-downs or, at the very least, some flash sales.”

Luckily, a friend suggested Ingus check the Swap Shop. “He said they had a bunch of everyday items, so before I go on a shopping spree, I should see if I can get something for free,” he shares. “The decision was obvious: Raid the Swap Shop and then reevaluate how much more I need to spend out of pocket.”

Both Ingus and his roommate were excited to get free mini fridges, giving them extra food storage. At the end of the semester, they donated their mini fridges, a microwave, and various kitchenware for other students to use in the future. “This shop was and will continue to serve as a blessing,” he says. “With the Swap Shop, you can get these essential items for free, without spending money on pans, racks, and hangers that might end up in the trash at the end of the semester.”

Every Action Matters

Following its popularity in the fall, NYU held a Mini Spring Swap Shop in January. It drew attention from the Associated Press as well as local and state politicians and leaders. Thanks to a partnership with NYC Council Member Harvey Epstein, unclaimed items from the spring shop were donated to community organizations. As NYU’s Chief Sustainability Officer Cecil Scheib told NBC News, “We all have to do our little part. People feel their little part doesn’t add up, but it does.”

Looking forward, NYU hopes to continue growing the Swap Shop, helping more students reduce their spending and environmental impact while keeping unnecessary waste out of landfills. For NYU President Linda G. Mills, who stopped by both the fall and spring Swap Shops, this initiative exemplifies the innovative ways NYU is tackling problems faced not only by our students, but also by our larger society. “The Swap Shop was a huge success,” she says. “It’s ideas like these that bolster NYU’s reputation for community and sustainability.”