Spartan Upcycle
Creative reuse powered by the MSU Surplus Store & Recycling Center
Go green and get creative at the following free, hands-on events! Registration is encouraged, but not required.
APRIL
Clothing Repair-A-Thon
Tue., April 18 • 2 - 5 p.m. @ Makerspace in the MSU Library (2-West)
Patch those holes in your favorite clothes! Repair your ripped jeans and replace those shirt buttons! Come as a beginner, a seasoned expert, or anywhere in between! Gain or give hands-on help in the Makerspace with your item. We have a variety of equipment and supplies. Bring clothing you need to repair, or come to learn techniques. Mending is a fun way to save money and the environment. Registration is encouraged, but not required.
Sat. April 22 • Noon - 4 p.m. @ Surplus Store & Recycling Center
Celebrate Earth Day! Join in a freecycle swap, make upcycled art, tour the recycling and vermicompost facilities, and enjoy music by DJs with Impact 89FM. This event is part of the MSU Science Festival, and is hosted in collaboration with the Office of Sustainability and MSU Libraries’ Hollander Makerspace. Learn more.
Contact
Location: The MSU Surplus Store & Recycling Center is on campus at 468 Green Way, East Lansing, MI 48823.
Transportation and Parking:
- 7 minute bike ride from Beaumont Tower
- 20 minute walk from Beaumont Tower
- Free parking on-site for events and while shopping at the Surplus Store.
Email: Send general inquires to recycle@msu.edu or contact the Education Coordinator directly at deskakat@msu.edu. Follow Spartan Upcycle on Instagram.
Phone: 517-355-1723
Event Snapshots
Follow us on Instagram for more photos!
Spartan Upcycle invites you to rethink traditional definitions of value and purpose, and creatively reuse and repurpose discarded materials collected through the everyday operations of the MSU Surplus Store & Recycling Center.
About Spartan Upcycle
Create more, and waste less with Spartan Upcycle, the creative reuse branch of the MSU Surplus Store & Recycling Center.
Spartan Upcycle intends to encourage all of us to rethink traditional definitions of value and purpose, challenge ourselves to take creative risks, and ultimately discover a new use for items that were once thought of as waste. We aim to inspire and promote creativity, resource conservation and community engagement through art, education and imagination.
We host hands-on DIY and arts & crafts events that give you the chance to reuse, repurpose, and reimagine discarded materials. Most events are free and open to anyone, regardless of experience or skill. Spartan Upcycle also makes and sells handcrafted goods and project materials at the Surplus Store, which is the on-campus thrift shop that also sells unique Spartan collectibles. Shop in-person on Fridays from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. or online 24/7.
What we do:
RETAIL: We create and sell upcycled goods by repurposing discarded items collected on MSU's campus. We also sell a variety of supplies for DIY and craft projects, plus unique ephemera. Shop with us in-person at the Spartan Upcycle nook of the MSU Surplus Store on Fridays from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. or online. Please note, our in-store offerings are different from our online inventory.
EDUCATION: Spartan Upcycle offers hands-on workshops, hosts events, and offers art-making opportunities for the campus community and general public. Materials and items used in these activities are sourced from the collection operations of the MSU Surplus Store & Recycling Center, the public Recycling Drop-Off Center, the MSU Community Reuse program, and surplus campus goods.
COLLABORATION: We are happy to collaborate with a number of campus partners, including academic classes, student groups, units/centers. When possible, we also partner with community organizations and host workshops for small groups upon request. Learn more.
What you can find:
- View the online offerings from Spartan Upcycle. Plus, follow the Surplus Store Facebook page, for updates on hours and special sales.
- Items for sale include materials and supplies for use in various projects and upcycled/reclaimed goods that have been repaired, repurposed or otherwise had value added to them.
- The materials and supplies we sell may be used in various arts and crafts as well as home decorating or minor home improvement projects.
- While our inventory varies depending on what SSRC collects through our operations, Spartan Upcycle regularly stocks materials and supplies related to:
- collage, decoupage, assemblage
- scrapbooking, cardmaking
- sewing, knitting, fiber arts
- clothes mending and upcycling
- furniture repair and upcycling
- woodworking, metalsmithing
- zero waste living (jars, canisters, etc. for bulk shopping; fabric for making reusable alternatives to single-use products; repurposed and second-hand items, etc.)
Why Upcycle?
Spartan Upcycle supports SSRC’s mission to manage waste as a resource through an integrated system of reuse, recycling, collaboration and education. We inspire and promote creativity, resource conservation and community engagement through art, education and imagination. Why? Because more creativity = less waste!
SSRC is responsible for collecting and managing discarded items from campus including recyclables, surplus goods, IT equipment, food waste and trash. We collect from academic, research, and residential buildings; athletic and event spaces; MSU farms and more. Each year we process between 20 and 25 million pounds of material, and on average we divert roughly half of all general building waste away from the landfill.
Spartan Upcycle came about a few years ago when it became apparent that SSRC was missing an opportunity to keep more "stuff" out of the landfill and in circulation. We knew that repurposing and reimaging was the way forward.