One of the Office of Sustainability’s flagship events, the Annual Move-In Resale, returns Saturday, Sept. 6 from 3–5 p.m., offering gently used dorm furniture at steep discounts. “It's one of our biggest programs of the year, and one of many opportunities for students to engage in sustainability action during their time at Princeton,” Matt Brinn, Sustainability Communications and Engagement Manager, said. 

The items, which are donated from spring’s Greening Move-Out event and stored over the summer, are organized and tagged meticulously by the sustainability team and hardworking volunteers in preparation for the Resale. “Everything has a sticker on it with prices ranging from 1 to 20 dollars,” Brinn said. “Our goal is to keep everything affordable. We try to offer 90 percent discounts compared to retail value.”  

The team uses a rubric to clarify pricing on bigger-ticket items, such as couches, which are always in high demand. “If we have a three-seater couch in good condition, for example, it will be the highest price item there,” he said. “Everything we’ve collected will be diverted from landfills, and if anything is left over after the Resale it’s donated to one of the local nonprofits that we partner with.” 

Items available include couches, tables, chairs, refrigerators, bookcases, kitchen appliances, and everything in between. There's even a section dedicated to plants courtesy of the Forbes Garden Project, for those looking to add a pop of greenery to their spaces. 

Brinn says that attendance continues to grow: “We had 514 students in 2024 and hope to top that.” To ensure fairness, each student can claim up to one furniture item and one fridge. “We have a check-in number system to keep the flow of traffic going,” he shared. “Students start lining up hours before 3, so we want to make sure we’re efficient.” 

The Resale is also an opportunity to check out the work of student organizations focused on sustainability. In that regard, the EcoReps are integral to the event’s success. “EcoReps are peer-to-peer educators that encourage sustainable behavior change across campus,” Kitty Helm, the Sustainability Program Coordinator, said.  

Helm oversees the large-scale, cross-departmental EcoReps program, and is proud of the impact events like the Resale have on promoting positive behavior change. “It’s a sustainability, landfill diversion, and equity win. Students get to see the scope of what is left behind, and we hope it inspires everyone to think about the lifespans of the items that they’re purchasing – are they going to last beyond this year alone?”  

The Office of Sustainability has also hosted two “Free Sales” this summer for participants in the Freshman Scholar Institute, supporting first-gen students with free dorm essentials. 

 “These events are a great way for the EcoReps to see the planning that goes into large-scale programming. They do a lot of outreach connected to habits that build sustainability, so if they see a gap on campus or opportunity for improvement, they can develop their own programming,” Helm said. "Almost all high-impact programming, from Greening Move-Out to the Farmers' Market, was originally developed because passionate students identified a sustainability challenge on campus and created solutions.” 

Upcoming sustainability events include the Fall Farmers’ Market (Wednesdays, Sept. 10–Oct. 29) and the Annual Green Brunch on Sept. 20, featuring a low-waste Jammin’ Crepes brunch and a chance to connect with sustainability-minded peers.