Employee News

CU Boulder Surplus Store Marks First Year of Major Sustainability Impact

Nancy Portner — Thu, 05 Feb 2026 21:18:50 +0000

CU Boulder Surplus Store Marks First Year of Major Sustainability Impact Nancy Portner Thu, 02/05/2026 - 14:18

Sustainability Wins Worth Celebrating

CU Boulder’s commitment to sustainability took a major step forward this year as the CU Boulder Surplus Store celebrated its first full year of operation—and the numbers show just how much progress the campus has made in waste diversion and reuse.

Opened in January 2025, the Surplus Store was created to give university-owned items a second life while offering affordable options for students, faculty, staff and the community. From clothing and office furniture to electronics and lab equipment, the store has quickly become a resource for those looking to save money, reduce waste and participate in a more circular campus economy.

A year of measurable impact

In its first full year, the Surplus Store saw dramatic growth in both the volume of items redistributed and the materials diverted from the landfill. Compared to the year prior to its soft opening, the number of items moved through direct sales, campus sales and donations increased by 311%—jumping from 3,427 items to 14,086. Total material tonnage diverted from disposal also rose sharply, growing by 262%, from 115.49 tons to 418.6 tons.

To put this impact into perspective, CU Boulder generates nearly 5,000 tons of waste each year, diverting about half through recycling, composting, and reuse. The Surplus Store plays a major role in that effort, helping to manage materials that make up nearly 10% of the campus’s total diversion by mass and 20% of the university’s overall waste‑diversion impact. And because reuse gives material a useful second life, it delivers on our goal to build a circular economy for our campus and the region.

“These results show what’s possible when we make sustainability simple and accessible,” said Walter O’Toole, assistant director of Distribution Services. “Every item reused saves resources and supports our campus community.”

“The Surplus Store is a great example of how CU Boulder’s campus serves as a living laboratory for sustainability, turning everyday actions into meaningful impact,” said Andrew Mayock, CU Boulder’s vice chancellor for sustainability. “By extending the life of university materials, we reduce waste, lower our environmental footprint and strengthen our culture of reuse. This progress moves our campus toward a more sustainable future and offers a model for other campuses and communities.”

Circularity in action - and at an accessible price

Beyond reducing waste, the Surplus Store also supports equity and affordability on campus. By reselling high quality items at low cost - including sit-stand desks, Windows-11-ready laptops, dorm essentials and clothing - the store makes essential resources more accessible for both students and community members.

This model of reuse is central to CU Boulder’s circularity efforts: keeping materials in use longer, reducing the need for new purchases and ensuring that valuable goods remain available within the campus community rather than ending up in the landfill.

Weekly walkthrough videos on the store’s website help shoppers preview what’s available before visiting in person.

“The growth we have seen is exciting because it shows people really want to participate in reuse,” said Denise Worthington, property services program manager. “Every item that finds a new home makes a difference.”

Supporting CU Boulder’s Zero Waste goals

The store’s mission aligns closely with campuswide zero waste efforts led by the CU Environmental Center (E-Center) programs. To learn more about CU Boulder’s recycling, composting and waste reduction initiatives, check out our zero waste website.

Getting there is easier than ever

Visitors can reach the Surplus Store by using Buff Ride, CU Boulder’s on‑demand transit service, which includes a stop at the Distribution Center.

Celebrate the first year and see what’s next

As the Surplus Store marks its one‑year anniversary, the campus community is invited to stop by, explore available items and learn how their purchases help support a more sustainable CU Boulder.

For weekly walkthrough videos, store hours and location details, visit the CU Boulder Surplus Store website.

Questions about the Surplus Store?

Contact the store at 303‑735‑0655 or email cubouldersurplus@colorado.edu.

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Retirement Ready webinars coming Feb. 25 through March 12

Nancy Portner — Thu, 05 Feb 2026 19:36:49 +0000

Retirement Ready webinars coming Feb. 25 through March 12 Nancy Portner Thu, 02/05/2026 - 12:36

Retirement marks the next chapter in your story. Retirement Ready offers practical pre-retirement planning to help you prepare.

The �Թ�� of Colorado does more than contribute to your employee retirement account. If you’re within five years of retirement, we’re here to ensure that you have all the necessary tools and resources to approach your retirement with confidence.

Upcoming Retirement Ready presentations will help you navigate your personal retirement income, Social Security, medical coverage and practical considerations. Take advantage of CU’s Retirement Ready resources to outline your ideal next chapter.

Step 1: Register for webinars

PERA Pre-Retirement Planning Workshop: 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Feb. 25
Set your retirement date: Understand the factors to get you to your goal: Noon – 12:45 p.m. Feb. 26
Social Security Basics: 1 – 2:30 p.m. Feb. 27
Medicare 101: 1 – 2:30 p.m. March 3
PERA Retirement Process: 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. March 4
Estate Planning: Noon – 1 p.m. March 9
PERACare (65 and older): 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. March 11
How to get the most out of your retirement income: Noon – 12:30 p.m. March 12

Step 2: Take this on-demand course

A crucial part of planning includes taking steps to ensure your ongoing benefits coverage. Continue your retirement planning with this on-demand course — CU’s Process for Retiring: PERA Participants — and related guides and checklists

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LGBTQ+ Subcommittee Within IROCC: Info Sessions Feb. 4, 5 and 6

Nancy Portner — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 19:34:01 +0000

LGBTQ+ Subcommittee Within IROCC: Info Sessions Feb. 4, 5 and 6 Nancy Portner Wed, 02/04/2026 - 12:34

Good afternoon I&R colleagues,

My name is Claude Masson, and I’m a member of IROCC (Infrastructure and Resilience Opportunity for Change Committee). Inclusion and empowerment are core values I hold close, and they’re also at the heart of Infrastructure and Resilience and our campus community. To help champion these values, I’m launching an LGBTQ+ Subcommittee within IROCC that will focus on fostering inclusion, validation, and allyship across our organization. Through events, education, and support initiatives, my goal is to create staff-centered spaces where all voices are heard and celebrated.

Right now, I’m developing our strategic plan — the guiding goals and principles that will shape the subcommittee’s work. I invite staff—whether you identify as LGBTQ+, are questioning, or are an ally—to join me in shaping this vision. Your input will guide our priorities and ensure the subcommittee reflects the needs and aspirations of our community. Join me at one or more of these upcoming community-building gatherings:

In-person at Folsom Stadium:

When: Wednesday, February 4th at 9am and 4pm
Where: STAD-1B12E

In-person at RL2:

When: Thursday, February 5th at 10am
Where: RL2-306 at 10 am and RL2-321 at 4 pm

Virtually via Zoom:

When:
- Friday, February 6th at 9am: https://cuboulder.zoom.us/j/97105758437
- Friday, February 6th at 2pm: https://cuboulder.zoom.us/j/97105758437
If you wish to attend via Zoom anonymously, instructions on how to do so can be found here.

�Թ�� me: I’m an arborist technician III in Facilities Operations’ Outdoor Services. As a gay transgender man, this subcommittee is deeply personal to me. I’ve benefited from CU’s inclusivity, but I’ve also noticed that many campus LGBTQ+ resources are geared toward students or not accessible to staff. After five years in arborist work, I’ve seen how little LGBTQ+ representation exists in manual labor and blue-collar fields. My hope is that this subcommittee can help tilt that balance — creating representation, support, education, and community for staff who want it, so no one feels isolated in their identity.

Together, we can co-create an inclusive vision for the future and build meaningful connections across I&R.

If interested or if you have questions, please contact me at claude.masson@colorado.edu. All correspondences will be kept confidential.

Thank you for your time, and I look forward to building community with you!

Claude Masson

he/him/his

Arborist Technician III

CU Boulder Facilities Maintenance

303-265-1227

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Help Wanted: Recycling Collections Crew - Apply on or before Tues. Feb. 17, 2026

Nancy Portner — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 19:30:41 +0000

Help Wanted: Recycling Collections Crew - Apply on or before Tues. Feb. 17, 2026 Nancy Portner Wed, 02/04/2026 - 12:30

The Recycling Collections Crew position has been posted on the CU Boulder Jobs website through Tuesday, February 17, 2026.

A quicklink to share and view the posting has been created.

Current CU Boulder employees (not including students) should access the job posting and submit interest at the following location:

Log in to the MyCUinfo portal
Select CU Resources > Business Tools > CU Boulder Jobs Internal Job Board
Use the Keyword Search to find this posting number: 69897

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Help Wanted: Assistant Director, Utility Distribution Systems - Apply on or before Sun. March 1, 2026

Nancy Portner — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 19:51:37 +0000

Help Wanted: Assistant Director, Utility Distribution Systems - Apply on or before Sun. March 1, 2026 Nancy Portner Mon, 02/02/2026 - 12:51

The Assistant Director, Utility Distribution Systems position has been posted on the CU Boulder Jobs website through Sunday, March 1, 2026.

A quicklink to share and view the posting has been created.

Current CU Boulder employees (not including students) should access the job posting and submit interest at the following location:

Log in to the MyCUinfo portal
Select CU Resources > Business Tools > CU Boulder Jobs Internal Job Board
Use the Keyword Search to find this posting number: 69790

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Help Wanted: Utility Plant Operator - Control Room - Apply on or before Feb. 22, 2026

Nancy Portner — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 19:22:51 +0000

Help Wanted: Utility Plant Operator - Control Room - Apply on or before Feb. 22, 2026 Nancy Portner Mon, 02/02/2026 - 12:22

The Utility Plant Operator - Control Room position has been posted on the CU Boulder Jobs website through Sunday, February 22, 2026.

A quicklink to share and view the posting has been created.

Current CU Boulder employees (not including students) should access the job posting and submit interest at the following location:

Log in to the MyCUinfo portal
Select CU Resources > Business Tools > CU Boulder Jobs Internal Job Board
Use the Keyword Search to find this posting number: 69822

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Work Wear Safety shoe truck coming to GROC Feb. 19, 12pm -3pm

Nancy Portner — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 18:59:35 +0000

Work Wear Safety shoe truck coming to GROC Feb. 19, 12pm -3pm Nancy Portner Mon, 02/02/2026 - 11:59

The Work Wear Safety shoe truck will be here on campus at the GROC parking lot. If you work in Facilities Management and your work shoes need replacement please plan to stop by:

Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, 12pm – 3pm

If you need new safety shoes please download/print the safety shoe voucher (requires login to SharePoint) and get it signed by your supervisor and bring it to the shoe truck with you.

Here's a flyer which shows the shoe truck location on Feb. 19 and also the alternative WorkWear Safety superstore location down in Commerce City.

All the safety shoes available in the truck will be ANSI certified. More information on the FM Safety Shoe program is available on our FM Safety SharePoint site.

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Help Wanted: Medium Voltage Systems Technician - Apply on or before Feb. 19, 2026

Nancy Portner — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 18:38:06 +0000

Help Wanted: Medium Voltage Systems Technician - Apply on or before Feb. 19, 2026 Nancy Portner Thu, 01/29/2026 - 11:38

The Medium Voltage Systems Technician position has been posted on the CU Boulder Jobs website through Thursday, February 19, 2026.

A quicklink to share and view the posting has been created.

Current CU Boulder employees (not including students) should access the job posting and submit interest at the following location:

Log in to the MyCUinfo portal
Select CU Resources > Business Tools > CU Boulder Jobs Internal Job Board
Use the Keyword Search to find this posting number: 69769

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Help Wanted: I&C and Electrical Distribution Systems Technician - Apply on or before Feb. 19, 2026

Nancy Portner — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 18:34:50 +0000

Help Wanted: I&C and Electrical Distribution Systems Technician - Apply on or before Feb. 19, 2026 Nancy Portner Thu, 01/29/2026 - 11:34

The I&C and Electrical Distribution Systems Technician position has been posted on the CU Boulder Jobs website through Thursday, February 19, 2026.

A quicklink to share and view the posting has been created.

Current CU Boulder employees (not including students) should access the job posting and submit interest at the following location:

Log in to the MyCUinfo portal
Select CU Resources > Business Tools > CU Boulder Jobs Internal Job Board
Use the Keyword Search to find this posting number: 69768

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Attend the State of the Campus address Feb. 10 (in person or livestream)

Nancy Portner — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 15:24:44 +0000

Attend the State of the Campus address Feb. 10 (in person or livestream) Nancy Portner Mon, 01/26/2026 - 08:24

�Թ�� Justin Schwartz will deliver the annual State of the Campus address on Tuesday, Feb. 10—an opportunity for the campus community to celebrate its successes over the past year and collaborate on the vision for CU Boulder’s future as the university marks its 150th anniversary.

A livestream of the event will also be available for those unable to attend in person.

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