Julie Rosenthal is the Program Management Specialist in the Asian Studies Program but she has also taken the initative to launch a new group, to facilitate the exchange and sharing of office supplies on campus.

In her own words, "This group will be similar to "Freecycle" in that a UMBC office or department can advertise that they have office supplies or items that are no longer of use to them.  The items will only be offered to other UMBC deparment, and will be available free of charge. The idea is to use UMBC's supplies and resources to the maximum extent possible."  

She has created this myUMBC group for offices to communicate about supplies they would like to donate and or receive: http://my.umbc.edu/groups/retriever-exchange

Please let offices and departments across campus know about this new opportunity and help make it a sucess! 

Without a program like this, departments would lose time and money procuring supplies that are already sitting unused in another office. Additionally, offices often are losing storage space with unnecessary clutter that could be put to use elsewhere.  

Julie says "It also promotes a "green" and sustainable environment for our campus, and prevents perfectly good items from going to a landfill."

If you are interested in updating your office to conserve resources from energy to recycling, get Green Office certified with the new program to be launched in Spring 2014: http://sustainability.umbc.edu/staff-green-office-certification/

Contact sustainability@umbc.edu if you are interested in being a part of the new Green Office Program in the spring.

Additionally, Students for Environmental Awareness, the Recycling Promo/Events Team, and other groups on campus are looking to collect reusable items during student move out in May to ensure useful goods are collected and put to use, rather than tossed in the trash. They are looking for ways to raise awareness of their end of year 'free store' event and exchance, and for volunteers to help keep it running smoothly. Contact umbcseaclub@gmail.com to learn more.