Cornell Furniture Reuse Network
Designed to supplement R5, this network helps campus departments rehome university-owned furniture displaced by construction, remodeling, or that is no longer needed. Operating through Viva Engage, it serves as both a discussion space and a database for available furniture. Cornell staff may post photos of surplus furniture or request items for departmental use, ensuring that furniture remains in circulation within the university.
Purpose, sustainability mission/alignment
As a small organization, R5 faces challenges in managing excess furniture across campus. The Cornell Furniture Reuse Network streamlines this process by enabling direct communication between employees to coordinate furniture availability and rehoming. By reducing waste and promoting internal reuse, the network helps minimize the environmental impact of furniture disposal at Cornell.
Who can be a part the Cornell Furniture Reuse Network?
Participation is limited to Cornell staff only. All furniture listed or acquired through the Cornell Furniture Reuse Network is for internal Cornell departmental use and may not be transferred to students or outside entities.
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How to Join the Cornell Furniture Reuse Network via Viva Engage
1. Sign in to Cornell Office 365
Click the App Launcher (nine-square icon) in the upper left.
Select All apps, then choose Viva Engage.
2. Join the Group
After signing in, browse available groups.
Locate Cornell Furniture Reuse and click Join.
Once joined, the group will appear in your side menu, with activity indicators for updates.
3. Install the Viva Engage App for Teams (Optional). Open Teams on the web or desktop
In the left pane, select Apps.
Search for Viva Engage and click Add.
Click the three dots in the left navigation bar, select Viva Engage, and open the Cornell Furniture Reuse group to join.
For more information, please visit these links.
- Microsoft Viva Engage Quick Start Guide
- Get Started with Viva Engage
- Getting Started with Viva Engage at Cornell
- Direct Link to Join the Cornell Furniture Reuse Network
Frequently Asked Questions
- Take a picture of the available item of furniture
- List how many items are available
- Indicate where the items are located on campus
- State how long the items are available
- Provide contact information for inquiries
- Update your post when the items are no longer available
- Spreadsheet – what to do when you find something from the spreadsheet
- Look through the Viva Engage page to see if anyone has posted what you are looking for
- Check the R5 public auction site. If you find an item through R5, you’ll need to drive to their location during business hours to pick it up. We recommend calling R5 in advance to confirm that the item is still available before making the trip.
If no one claims the item you posted, we recommend keeping it listed for at least one week, and ideally up to two weeks, before taking further action. After posting, be sure to let your colleagues and network know the item is available. If the item doesn’t find a new home within that timeframe, you can then contact R5 to arrange for pickup and proper disposal.
If someone responds to your posted item, they should reply directly within the original thread to express their interest. From there, it’s up to both parties to coordinate a date and time for pickup or drop-off. Please note that users are responsible for organizing their own transportation and logistics. If needed, you can reserve a fleet vehicle through Cornell for transportation or arrange assistance with the Cornell Moving Team (a labor service coordinated through Facilities and Campus Services). Moving services are typically paid for by the requesting department.
- Post your item to the Furniture Reuse Network.
- Wait at least one week to give others time to claim it.
- If someone is interested, coordinate pickup/drop-off directly with them.
- If no one claims the item after a week or two, contact R5 to arrange for disposal.
- Browse the Furniture Reuse Network spreadsheet.
- Check Viva Engage posts to see if anyone is offering what you need.
- Look through R5’s public auction site for available items.
- Contact Sedgwick Business Interiors if you need additional options.
- If you can't find what you need through reuse, purchase new furniture through eShop or directly with Sedgwick.
The Cornell Furniture Reuse Network and R5 cannot accept any of the following items:
- Capital assets or high value items such as instrumentation or vehicles: please refer to Cornell’s Capital Asset Transfer System.
- Any sort of electronics, including hard drives: please refer to IT @ Cornell or the Cornell Computer Reuse Association.
- Lab materials and chemicals: please refer to Cornell Environment, Health, and, Safety.
- Hazardous waste and asbestos.
- Microwaves and refrigerators.
Role of CFRN within STACS
The Cornell Furniture Reuse Network (CFRN) is the first step in the System for Trade & Auction of Cornell Surplus (STACS), providing a way for campus employees to share and redistribute university-owned furniture before it’s discarded. If no one claims an item through CFRN, it moves to R5 Operations, which then takes ownership and decides how to reuse or dispose of it. High-value or unique items may be listed on STACS for a broader audience, but Cornell employees always get first access for free.
Staff & Faculty Sustainability Funding Resources
- Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability
- Engaged Cornell
- Learn more about the System for Trade & Auction of Cornell Surplus, STACS
- Cornell R5 Operations promotes sustainable waste practices campus-wide
- Cornell’s Capital Asset Transfer System (CATS) is separate from R5’s operations and governs high value items (instrumentation, vehicles, etc.) which are no longer needed
- Cornell offers a number of other programs to keep materials in circulation and out of landfills under Cornell ReUSE
Any questions, contact the Campus Sustainability Office: sustainability@cornell.edu