We accept donations from anyone and everyone to provide students with all the materials they need to succeed.

Anything you might possibly need to kit out your pencil case or get creative - we have! 

The Stationery Reuse Centre is your one stop shop for pens, pencils, highlighters, rulers, notebooks and more... 

Help us work towards a more sustainable campus by using up-cycled stationery! Why buy stationery supplies when you can get them for free?! 

Where are we? 

We are located in room QUAD1001A. 

If you're confused by that then just go to the top of the Rainbow Steps and go around the corner where the vending machines are. We should be the first door on the left! 

Our Address

Arc Reception 

Gate 5, High Street 

Level 2 Basser College 

UNSW 2052 

Donate to us!

** to donate between December 10th 2022 and February 1st 2023, please contact Arc Reception at reception@arc.unsw.edu.au. Please note Arc Reception is not open during UNSW Shutdown period (20th December 2022 to January 3rd 2023). 

Unfortunately, due to storage limitations, we are currently not accepting lever arch binders or folders, please check back here for updates. As an alternative, please consider donating to your local public school or community centre, recycle your unwanted plastic sleeves or check out how to safely recycle folders here. 

You can donate the following items:

• Pens
• Pencils
• Erasers
• Whiteout
• Paper 
• Notebooks and pads
• Art supplies (markers, sketchbooks, paints etc.)
• Rulers and protractors
• Staplers and staples
• Holepunchers
• Paperclips and bulldog clips 
• Tape and tape dispensers
• Scissors
• USBs 

We are currently not accepting:

• Lever arch folders / ring binders
• Tab dividers
• Plastic sleeves

Please contact us if you'd like to donate or if you have any questions! 

Check out the eReuse program website (link below) if you have any old laptops, computers and accessories to donate. They also recycle your used batteries, lightbulbs and mobile phones!

For items that aren't being accepted please consider recycling them at your local recycling centre or contacting carbon neutral removal services such as Ridly Rubbish Removal

Why donate?

We provide students with free stationery so they can save on the cost of learning materials, helping us work towards equity for students. In the process, this helps our UNSW community work towards a more sustainable future by reusing materials that would otherwise go to landfill. 

What isn't used on our students is used to create learning support packs for Shack Tutoring that coaches high school students in disadvantaged local communities or is given to local community members via Facebook Marketplace. 

Donations of any size are welcome

How to Become a Recycle Disciple

Recycling stationery isn't always easy but here are some tips for how to recycle different items:

• Reuse what you already have and make the most of your existing supplies
• Plastic sleeves and other soft plastic items (scrunchable) can be red-cycled. Red-cycling is usually available at your local Woolworths and Coles supermarkets but otherwise google locations in your area
• Lever arch folders are slightly trickier to recycle. They need to be broken down into their basic elements of cardboard, plastic covering and metal. To do this you'll need a boxcutter to strip off the covering. For further instructions on how to recycle binders there are heaps of detailed instructions online
• Facebook marketplace and charity shops, like Vinnies, are also a great place to re-home your more miscellaneous stationery items
• For bulky items or large quantities of particular items it may be easier to take them to your local tip and recycle them there. Most tips also have an on-site place where you can donate items that are still in good working condition

Volunteer with us in 2022!  

Although volunteer applications for 2022 have closed, don't hesitate to contact us and we'll see what we can do.  

Volunteering in our program is a great way to help us move towards sustainability, meet new people, expand your social circle and gain transferable skills that can be used at university and in the big wide world. 

Some of the tasks performed by Stationery Reuse volunteers include:

• Opening, closing and operating the Stationery Reuse Centre with a fellow volunteer during its opening hours (10am - 4pm on weekdays during the term)
• Re-stocking and cleaning the Centre
• Making new friends by working with a team of volunteers and helping people who visit the Centre

You can also join one of our 4 volunteer teams that focus on acquiring donations, publicity, event-planning and helping recruit new volunteers which will help you develop more specific skills such as event planning, administration and social media fluency. 

An added bonus: 

Volunteering at the Stationery Reuse Centre is also recognised on your Australian Higher Education Graduation Statement (AHEGS) after completing a minimum of 20 hours.