1.8+ Tonnes Reused! Celebrating Drop and Adopt 2026 Summer

Every semester transition brings dynamic shifts across our Clear Water Bay campus—and with it, the challenge of students move-out waste. Launched in Fall 2024, HKUST’s Drop and Adopt initiative was conceived with a clear mission: welcome incoming hall residents, ease their transition into university life, and build a circular campus culture where quality goods find a second life.

We are proud to celebrate the achievements of our Summer 2026 cycle. Together, our campus community donated 1,864 kg of preloved items, led prominently by clean bedding essentials. Staff members contributed significantly with 89 kg of valuable homeware, including kitchenware and certified electrical appliances, enriching the variety available to students.

Behind the scenes, sustainability is a hands-on community effort. Over 18 sorting sessions, 28 dedicated student and staff volunteers from diverse cultural and academic backgrounds worked tirelessly to sanitize, inspect, and organize every piece.

Their dedication generated meaningful impact:

• 821 community members received essentials, representing a threefold increase in beneficiaries since our inaugural cycle.

• Students made up 82% of all recipients, alongside campus staff, facilities contractors, residential families, and domestic helpers.

• Beyond campus boundaries, 147 kg of surplus bedding was re-routed to RUN Hong Kong, providing vital warmth and household support to refugees in Hong Kong.

Since Fall 2024, the Drop and Adopt programme has diverted over 4 tonnes of usable goods, achieving an outstanding 91% reuse and redistribution rate.

This milestone reflects deep cross-departmental collaboration. We extend our warmest gratitude to the Dean of Students' Office (DSTO), Office of Global Learning Experience (OGLE), Campus Management Office (CMO) Removal Team, and our passionate volunteer team.

Together, we are transforming surplus into solidarity and taking tangible steps toward a Net-Zero HKUST.

Watch our video to see the sorting and distribution in action, or visit our website to learn how to participate in the upcoming cycle.