Managing Surplus Property Managing Surplus Property for Reuse:for Reuse:

Options & Getting StartedOptions & Getting Started

Mark Lennon & Gary LoweMark Lennon & Gary LoweIRN – The Recycling NetworkIRN – The Recycling NetworkACUHO-I Sustainability WebinarACUHO-I Sustainability WebinarMarch 25, 2013March 25, 2013

Surplus is an issue for every schoolSurplus is an issue for every school

ReplacementReplacementRenovationRenovationDemolitionDemolitionStored inventoryStored inventoryDay-to-day attritionDay-to-day attrition

1.1. Internal reuseInternal reuse2.2. ResaleResale3.3. Local donationLocal donation4.4. National & international relief and National & international relief and

developmendevelopmentt

Internal ebayInternal ebay• Items posted to school-wide networkItems posted to school-wide network• Typically no cost to recipientTypically no cost to recipient

Filene’s Basement WarehouseFilene’s Basement Warehouse• Warehouse with or without electronic posting of new Warehouse with or without electronic posting of new

acquisitionsacquisitions• If stuff doesn’t get picked up, it goes awayIf stuff doesn’t get picked up, it goes away

DANGER !!DANGER !!The Dead-End or Conveyor Belt WarehouseThe Dead-End or Conveyor Belt Warehouse

AdvantagesAdvantages• Significant savings in new purchase $$Significant savings in new purchase $$• The common sense enviro/sustainability solutionThe common sense enviro/sustainability solution

DisadvantagesDisadvantages• Requires active, competent managementRequires active, competent management• Requires active, competent staffRequires active, competent staff• Not a complete solution - What to do with the stuff Not a complete solution - What to do with the stuff

that doesn’t get picked up?that doesn’t get picked up?• Not applicable to major turnover (e.g., renovation, Not applicable to major turnover (e.g., renovation,

dorm furniture)dorm furniture)

Example: Arizona StateExample: Arizona Statehttps://webapp3.asu.edu/spms/public.aspx

Active warehouse for internal redeploymentActive warehouse for internal redeployment Warehouse open to publicWarehouse open to public Ebay-like public auctionsEbay-like public auctions Not simple: User IDs, login (internal & public), Not simple: User IDs, login (internal & public),

sophisticated auction, $$ transactionssophisticated auction, $$ transactions

Warehouse, Auction, or Electronic SaleWarehouse, Auction, or Electronic SaleWarehouseWarehouse

• Open to public. Regular hours.Open to public. Regular hours. AdvantagesAdvantages

• Keeps stuff local. Makes some $$Keeps stuff local. Makes some $$ DisadvantagesDisadvantages

• Space. Time. Marketing. Inventory management. Space. Time. Marketing. Inventory management. Enterprise management. Handling money. Enterprise management. Handling money.

• Not a complete solution. Not a complete solution.

Example: UNC Chapel Hill Example: UNC Chapel Hill (many state schools(many state schools))

Auction / Electronic SaleAuction / Electronic SaleOften combined with warehouseOften combined with warehouse

Physical Physical • Sort & establish lots. Establish schedule. Arrange Sort & establish lots. Establish schedule. Arrange

inspection. Manage auction.inspection. Manage auction. ElectronicElectronic

• By lot or single itemBy lot or single item• Create or purchase software. Establish lots. Post and Create or purchase software. Establish lots. Post and

manage auctions. Manage pickup or shipment (yuck).manage auctions. Manage pickup or shipment (yuck).

Auction / Electronic SaleAuction / Electronic Sale AdvantagesAdvantages

• Revenue Revenue • Off-the-shelf software or apps (e.g., Craigslist)Off-the-shelf software or apps (e.g., Craigslist)• Mix good with bad to get rid of a lotMix good with bad to get rid of a lot

DisadvantagesDisadvantages• Complex: Lots of management & staff time, esp. in Complex: Lots of management & staff time, esp. in

getting startedgetting started• Not a complete solution: What to do with stuff that Not a complete solution: What to do with stuff that

doesn’t sell, and/or large quantitiesdoesn’t sell, and/or large quantitiesExample: Northern Kentucky Example: Northern Kentucky

Every city has hundreds of potential outlets Every city has hundreds of potential outlets for surplusfor surplus

ChurchesChurchesSchoolsSchoolsHomeless sheltersHomeless sheltersSocial service organizations (halfway houses, Social service organizations (halfway houses, group homes, etc.)group homes, etc.)Low-income residents and service providersLow-income residents and service providers

How to ManageHow to Manage• Direct contact: Phone calls, wish listsDirect contact: Phone calls, wish lists• Email and/or WebsiteEmail and/or Website• Periodic ‘open house’Periodic ‘open house’

AdvantagesAdvantages• Supports local communities & needsSupports local communities & needs• Great public relationsGreat public relations

DisadvantagesDisadvantages• High maintenanceHigh maintenance• Works if one or a few do it, not if all do itWorks if one or a few do it, not if all do it• Right time, right stuff issuesRight time, right stuff issues• Not a complete solutionNot a complete solution

Example: Harvard UniversityExample: Harvard Universitywww.uos.harvard.edu/fmo/recycling/newsletter/08/september.shtml

Fenced area set aside for surplus, away from main Fenced area set aside for surplus, away from main campus.campus.

Weekly ‘open house’ – Nonprofits, schools, etc. can Weekly ‘open house’ – Nonprofits, schools, etc. can come in and take surplus at no cost.come in and take surplus at no cost.

First-come, first-served. Recipients provide labor First-come, first-served. Recipients provide labor and transportation.and transportation.

Works for Harvard. What about BC, BU, NEU, MIT, Works for Harvard. What about BC, BU, NEU, MIT, Tufts, Leslie, WIT, ….Tufts, Leslie, WIT, ….

U.S. & worldwide demand for usable U.S. & worldwide demand for usable surplus is essentially infinite.surplus is essentially infinite.

Dozens of nonprofits can use surplus for Dozens of nonprofits can use surplus for disaster relief & economic development.disaster relief & economic development.

Reconstruction after natural disasterReconstruction after natural disasterSchools, orphanagesSchools, orphanagesHospitals, clinicsHospitals, clinicsVillages, slumsVillages, slums

AdvantagesAdvantages Few restrictions on material composition Few restrictions on material composition

and qualityand quality• Dorm/Residential, Classroom, Dorm/Residential, Classroom,

Office/Administrative, Scientific/Medical, Library, Office/Administrative, Scientific/Medical, Library, AthleticAthletic

A complete solution A complete solution Environmental and humanitarian benefitsEnvironmental and humanitarian benefits Great community/public relationsGreat community/public relations Cost is generally less than disposalCost is generally less than disposal

DisadvantagesDisadvantages Making the match; Right time, right stuff Making the match; Right time, right stuff

issuesissues Better for large than small quantities (full Better for large than small quantities (full

containers or trailers)containers or trailers) Logistics & scheduling; Neither schools nor Logistics & scheduling; Neither schools nor

nonprofits are set up to do thisnonprofits are set up to do this

Example: IRNExample: IRNwww.irnsurplus.com

Partnership with ~50 U.S. & international Partnership with ~50 U.S. & international nonprofits to match supply with neednonprofits to match supply with need

Comprehensive project management: Planning, Comprehensive project management: Planning, labor, logistics, paperwork, reportinglabor, logistics, paperwork, reporting

Quantities: Partial truckloads through multiple Quantities: Partial truckloads through multiple containerscontainers

Fixed assets and building materials move with Fixed assets and building materials move with surplussurplus

Case Study: Columbia UniversityCase Study: Columbia University

• IRN complements Columbia’s local outletsIRN complements Columbia’s local outlets

• May 2012: Two days, six buildings, five shipping containersMay 2012: Two days, six buildings, five shipping containers

• Labor: Columbia Facilities crewLabor: Columbia Facilities crew

• Destination: Community development in El SalvadorDestination: Community development in El Salvador

Case Study: Skidmore CollegeCase Study: Skidmore College

• Too large & complex for local outletsToo large & complex for local outlets

• Three-phase project, May-June 2012Three-phase project, May-June 2012

(1) Central campus dorm; (2) Garden apts; (3) Stored furnishings(1) Central campus dorm; (2) Garden apts; (3) Stored furnishings

• Eleven shipping containers (4+4+3), 2,100 piecesEleven shipping containers (4+4+3), 2,100 pieces

• Labor: Mover contracted by IRNLabor: Mover contracted by IRN

• Destination: Jamaica, Nicaragua, U.S. (Appalachians)Destination: Jamaica, Nicaragua, U.S. (Appalachians)

Case Study: Howard UniversityCase Study: Howard University

• Five-day window between move-out and move-inFive-day window between move-out and move-in

• Refreshing ~200 rooms in 8 dormitories (325 sets), plus 700 Refreshing ~200 rooms in 8 dormitories (325 sets), plus 700 mattresses mattresses

• Labor: Mover contracted by IRNLabor: Mover contracted by IRN

• Destination: Guatemala, El Salvador, NicaraguaDestination: Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua

1-866-229-19621-866-229-1962www.irnsurplus.com

Gary LoweGary LoweSurplus PropertySurplus Property

603-496-2850603-496-2850glowe@ir-network.comglowe@ir-network.com

Middlebury CollegeMiddlebury College