By Karl Hays, Co-Managing Editor
Toros looking to donate their unwanted clothing, or maybe discover their next great fit, might want to stop by the Dominguez Hills Farmers Market outside Cain Library. During the first Tuesday of each month, the Sustainability Club hosts a pop-up thrift shop for students, faculty, and staff to donate and shop for a wide range of items.
“Everything that you see here – anything from clothes, office supplies, and the miscellaneous items in our treasure chest – all would’ve ended up in the trash,” said Scarlett Zamora, the CSUDH zero waste coordinator. “In an effort to keep things out of the landfill, we offer this opportunity to the Toro community for free.”
The United States generated 17 million tons of textile waste in 2018, according to the most recent data from the Environmental Protection Agency, most of which is discarded clothing. The EPA estimates nearly 15 percent of that amount – about 2.5 million tons – re-enters the market recycled material. Still, millions of tons of textile waste ends up in landfills, contributing to environmental pollution.
The pop-up shop began as a way for the Sustainability Club to prevent dumping at the end of each semester. The club noticed students moving out of University Housing would often discard items that were in good condition – mini fridges, kitchen supplies, and other housewares.
The shop started as a twice-a-semester event, but moved to a monthly activity due to the high volume of items collected, Zamora said.
“I thought that if we have at least once a month, on a certain day that we can remember that it would help with the equilibrium of what is coming in and what is going out,” Zamora explained. “Since then, we have had a pretty steady outflow of items. Sometimes the moment I put something up, it gets taken right away, so that’s the beauty of it.”
The Sustainability Club reports that it has salvaged over 500 pounds of clothing since the start of the fall semester. Toros are welcome to browse the racks at the shop and take as much as they want, but they must sign a liability waiver before leaving with any items.
“It’s never happened before, but it is just in case someone gets an allergic reaction to a piece of clothing, we make sure to let them know to wash the clothes before they wear it,” Zamora said. “The more they take, the more we are able to save from the landfill.”
Although the pop-up shop only accepts in-person donations once a month, Toros can donate items anytime by visiting the drop-off site located near the IT Help Desk at the Natural Sciences and Mathematics building. However, there are a few exceptions: undergarments, large items, and glassware should stay at home.
“What’s cool about the pop-up thrift is that it brings community,” Zamora said. “I have seen people make friends while they are shopping … they ask others, ‘How would this look on me’?
The next in-person donation at the pop-up thrift shop is scheduled for Dec. 3.
