ASU Surplus extends the life of campus goods

Reuse, recycle and repurpose excess property

What happens to desks or laptops when department's no longer need them?

Diverting used items from landfills gives them a second chance.

ASU Surplus Property recirculates excess university property to the public through the storefront and the online auction platform GovDeals, diverting items from landfills. Surplus Property offers various items for sale, such as bikes, chairs, desks, laptops, laboratory equipment and more.

ASU policy PUR 205 requires the university to resell excess property back to its own community and the public. Surplus ensures the university fulfills its obligation to responsibly dispose of excess university property through recycling and reuse by other ASU departments or by public sale. 

Reselling items at discounted prices creates cost savings, supports the university’s sustainability goals, reduces waste, cuts emissions, and extends the life of resources.

ASU Surplus Property diverts an average of 400,000 pounds of excess property annually by reselling it instead of sending it to a landfill. Purchasing secondhand items significantly reduces emissions and extends product life. 

According to a life cycle analysis conducted by University of British Columbia students, purchasing secondhand tables from popular furniture brands like Wayfair and IKEA resulted in a 60.51–84.95% reduction in carbon emissions compared to buying new tables.

ASU employees can help keep excess property out of landfills by submitting an approved surplus transfer request to ASU Surplus Property in AssetWorks. After completing the online transfer request process, ASU Surplus Property will coordinate the pickup and transfer of the excess property back to the Surplus warehouse.

“Properly submitting an approved transfer request in AssetWorks for capital assets, tagged and non-tagged assets helps tremendously for accurate reporting and auditing purposes,” said John Ishii, assistant director of Supply Chain Operations.

ASU Surplus and the online auction are open to the public to shop for gently used items.  

“We serve many public organizations in the surrounding community like nonprofits and K-12 educators in addition to the ASU community who are truly in need of items at a discount,” Ishii said.

The cost of items can range from about 25% to 50% off the original price. Surplus shoppers may find the following items available for sale:

• A pre-owned vehicle for your department
• A used bike to make your commute more sustainable
• Lab equipment for a new research lab 
• Refreshing office furniture
• Tech accessories like keyboards and monitors for a new colleague
• Unique athletic gear to wear to the next game

ASU Surplus Property offers a year-round back-to-campus promotion on items intended for university use, such as 50% off furniture and 25% off technology items such as desktop computers, laptops and tablets. Large items can also be delivered directly to specified campus locations for an additional fee. 

Be on the lookout for an upcoming ASU employee surplus sale during the summer to enjoy major discounts on items such as furniture and technology. Follow University Sustainability Practices on Instagram and check ASU Insight for upcoming sales. 

Despite the misconception that secondhand means second-rate, many surplus goods are gently used and well-maintained. Check out USP’s Instagram to see creative ways secondhand items are reimagined. 

The ASU Surplus Store is open Monday through Friday from noon–4 p.m. at 734 W Alameda Drive, Tempe, AZ 85282, surplus door entrance W4. 

Visit the ASU Surplus Property webpage to learn more.