Fifth annual FREE-cycling office-supply swap set for Aug. 23

Rice’s popular FREE-cycling event of unused and unneeded office supplies is set for Aug. 23 in the Grand Hall, Rice Memorial Center, with “shopping” hours from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Offices across campus can donate items for the event in a box in outgoing mail marked “FREE-cycling,” and Delivery Services staff will pick up the box by Aug. 22. Departments that have large quantities to donate can contact Delivery Services at rrojas@rice.edu to schedule a pickup before Aug. 22.

Items to FREE-cycle include the usual, such as binders, business card holders, calculators, clipboards, coffee pots, cups, dividers, organizers, easels and pads, envelopes, expanding files, file folders, hanging folders, highlighters, index cards, dividers, index guides, labels, paper products, paper clips, pens and pencils, rubber bands, staplers and toner, as well as the unusual, such as vases and decorative items.

Large items, such as whiteboards, chairs, file cabinets and sofas, should be submitted by photograph, with contact information attached. Delivery Services will post the photo at the event.

Items that can be listed on Rice Classifieds should not be donated for the event.

Recycling bins will be available for dead batteries, dead cellphones, empty toner and ink cartridges, bubble wrap, packing peanuts and electronics. Electronics should be marked “working” or “broken.” Contact Marc Scarborough in IT at marcs@rice.edu to have any data devices wiped clear before they are picked up.

Any items that remain at the end of the event will be donated to a charitable organization.

The fifth annual FREE-cycling event is sponsored by Delivery Services, Environmental Health and Safety, IT, the Office of Sustainability, the Vice President for Administration and the Student Center. To volunteer to help with the event or for more information, contact Ute Franklin, umf@rice.edu.