Rehoming Deaccessioned Items
As part of its archival work, the University regularly de-accessions materials that do not align with its collecting policy, removing unwanted items from the collections. In addition, the team frequently re-houses materials by moving them from boxes and files that could cause damage into acid-free storage, ensuring long-term protection. This process often generates surplus materials that would have previously been discarded as waste.
Through collaboration with Transition St Andrews, the University has successfully re-homed around 300 box files and 200 journals on family history and archaeology, preventing these materials from going to landfill.
Transition St Andrews
Transition St Andrews works across the community with individuals, groups, and charities to redistribute resources to those in need. They have set up several Reuse stations across Halls of Residence and within the wider community. Last academic year, they placed Reuse stations in St Salvator’s and John Burnett Halls, as well as smaller stations at the community hospital and the Cosmos Centre.
They also organize circular economy events to provide more opportunities to keep materials out of landfill. These include repair cafes and skillshare events. Over the past year, 357 people attended skillshare workshops on sewing, upcycling, cooking, and gardening. Additionally, more than 140 people participated in repair cafes, repairing 280 items, and 196 tool loans were made at Toolshare events.
Through its partnership with the St Andrews Environmental Network, Transition’s St AndReuse initiative successfully diverted 12,558 kg of items, including clothes, bedding, toys, stationery, and more, from landfill. This effort saved £162,818 for participants and prevented an estimated 117 tonnes of CO2 from being released into the atmosphere.
St AndReuse recently won the Fife Voluntary Action ‘Green/Environmental Award 2024’ for its impactful work.